Dredging Corporation Signs 20 MoUs With 14 Firms Worth Rs 17000 Crores at IMW 2025
Mumbai:
Port Wings News Network:
Dredging Corporation of India Limited (DCIL) has entered into 22 Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) with 16 organisations worth Rs.17645 Crs during the India Maritime Week 2025 event held in Mumbai from 27 – 31 October 2025.
DCIL operates under a consortium of four major ports — Visakhapatnam Port Authority (VPA), Paradip Port Authority (PPA), Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA), and Deendayal Port Authority (DPA) — functioning under the aegis of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW).
These MoUs were entered with following ports and reputed organisation and industry majors:-
Promoter ports – Visakhapatnam Port, Paradip Port, Jawaharlal Nehru Port, Paradip Port, Deenadayal Report and other major ports including Shyam Prasad Mukherjee Port, Cochin Port, Chennai Port, Mumbai Port for catering to their dredging requirement for next 2-5 years.
- Cochin Shipyard for construction and repair of dredgers as part of the modernization initiatives under Atman Nirbhar Bharat.
- NMDC, Abu Dhabi- for formation of JV for partnering with foreign major aiming at increasing operational- efficiency, and global competitiveness.
- Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML) as part of Atma Nirbhar initiative, for indigenisation spares, construction of inland dredgers.
- IHC- the industry major- as part of the initiative to modernise the existing dredgers so as to optimise their capacity utilisation.
- National Technology Centre for Ports, Waterways & Coasts (NTCPWC) which has been set up under Centre of Excellence, IIT Chennai MOU for formation of JV for conducting Bathymetry Survey of all Ports (JV) as well as developing a Training Module relating for dredging which would ensure the country be ready with manpower for future dredging requirements.
- IOCL to ensure continuous unhindered supply of fuel and lubs to DCI vessel, MOU has been entered into with IOCL.
- HSL in connection with dry-docking and dredge repairs.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. M. Angamuthu, IAS, Chairman, Dredging Corporation of India Limited and Chairperson, Visakhapatnam Port Authority and Mumbai Port, expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Prime Minister and the Ministry for their visionary support.
He stated that a landmark announcement was made by the Prime Minister during the inauguration of India Maritime Week 2025, unveiling transformative initiatives under the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision. Among these, a major highlight was the ₹4,000 crore investments dedicated to the modernization of Dredging Corporation of India Limited (DCIL) for construction of 11 dredgers apart from upgradation, automation and development of skilled manpower.
He stated that MOUs would help DCI to continue to cater to the dredging requirements which is the lifeline for ports, upgrade the existing fleet, indiginsation of spares and dredger construction under Atma Nirbhar.
Capt. S. Divakar, Managing Director & CEO, DCIL, (A/C) stated that DCI is the leading dredging company in India and the executing of the MOUs with the Ports and other Market Leaders would enable to reaffirm its position and also make inroads globally. He added that the modernization roadmap will empower DCIL to execute complex dredging and reclamation projects with world-class precision.
He stated that DCI’s current dredging capacity is based on a fleet primarily consisting of 10 Trailer Suction Hopper Dredgers (TSHDs) with a combined hopper capacity of approximately 60,000 cubic meters. This fleet enables handling of roughly 50-60 million cubic meters of dredging annually, accounting for nearly 55% of India’s total dredging requirement of around 110- 120 million cubic meters per year. The addition of the new vessels would enable the company to increase its foot hold in the market and reaffirm its position as market leader.
The MoUs were into in the august presence of Shantanu Thakur, Union Minister of State for Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, along with senior dignitaries from MoPSW, major ports, shipyards, and global maritime organizations, during the India Maritime Week 2025 at the Bombay Exhibition Centre, Mumbai. The initiative forms a vital part of the Government’s long-term vision to achieve the goals of Maritime India Vision 2030 and Atmanirbhar Bharat 2047, reaffirming India’s leadership in the maritime and blue economy sectors.
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