Myanmar’s Navy held a ceremony on March 8 at its shipyard headquarters in Thanlyin to open a new 40,000-ton dry dock, lay the keels of two anti-submarine vessels, and commission several newly built naval ships.

The event was attended by Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, chairman of the State Security and Peace Commission and Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services, along with senior military leaders, ministers, and naval officials.

During the ceremony, officials inaugurated the dry dock with a ribbon-cutting and unveiled a commemorative plaque. The facility, the largest of its kind in Myanmar, is designed to build and repair large naval vessels and commercial ships. It can handle either one 40,000-ton ship or two large vessels at the same time.

Two new anti-submarine ships also began construction at the dock, marking the first vessels to be built there.

Senior General Min Aung Hlaing said the new facility would strengthen the navy’s shipbuilding capabilities and help protect Myanmar’s maritime interests, including energy resources, fisheries, and sea trade routes.

The navy also formally commissioned several ships, including the locally built Thalun Min frigate—the largest warship ever constructed domestically—as well as four multipurpose river patrol vessels.

The shipyard project was developed in three phases, starting in 1998, with the final phase completed in 2019 and officially opened this year. Officials said the dock will support both military and civilian shipbuilding and repair in the future.