The Department of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering (NAME), BUET, is proud to announce that Team Black Pearl has been honored by the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) at the prestigious “Tarunner Utsob 2025”. In the session, key national priorities, including advancing maritime technology, achieving global standards, and moving toward green and sustainable water transportation, were discussed with great insight and vision.

The Team Black Pearl received this honor for securing First Place in the International Ferry Design Competition 2024, organized globally by WFSA, with their innovative design, Naija Spirit, which represented Bangladesh on the global stage. The Team Black Pearl extends sincere gratitude to Ms. Delowara Begum, Honorable Additional Secretary (Administration) of the Ministry of Shipping, whose presence and encouragement at the event inspired young innovators working in the maritime sector. Special thanks are also due to Mr. Md. Salim Ullah, Honorable Chairman of BIWTC, for arranging this recognition ceremony that uplifts young talents and acknowledges their meaningful contributions toward maritime development.

This remarkable achievement reflects the dedication and collaborative efforts of the seven-member team led by Md. Safayet Hossain and supervised by Professor Dr. Zobair Ibn Awal. The team members Md. Abdul Kader, Abu Rasel, Mahmudul Hasan Shahed, Omeo Habib, Atiqur Rahaman, and Kawsar Zidan played integral roles in bringing this project to success. Their work, recognized and awarded by global maritime bodies such as the WFSA (World Ferry Safety Association), underscores Bangladesh’s growing commitment to safer, more efficient, and environmentally conscious water transport systems. The Department of NAME, BUET, congratulates the team for bringing pride to the nation and remains dedicated to nurturing engineers who will continue to shape the future of maritime sector in Bangladesh.