India: DCI Expands Its Dredging Fleet

DCI Dredge XX, a latest second trailer suction hopper dredger (TSHD) of the Dredging Corporation of India Limited (DCIL) was joined in the fleet.

The dredger that was procured at a cost of Rs. 528 crores from IHC Merwede, The Netherlands, in presence of Shri.M.C.Jauhari, Joint Secretary (Shipping), Capt. D. K. Mohanty, Chairman and Managing Director, DCI, Shir Atulya Misra, Chairman, Chennai Port Trust, and Shri. M. A. Bhaskarachar, Chairman and Managing Director, Ennore Port and Shri B.Poiyaamozhi, Development Advisor (Ports).

DCI directors – Shri P.V.Ramana Murthy, Director (Finance), Cmde.P.Jayapal, Director (operations & technical), Shri S.Balachandran, Independent Director, Dr.Narasimha Rao, Independent Director also participated in the glittering function. The ceremony was attended by other senior officials from Ministry, Chennai Port Trust and Ennore Port.

On the occasion Minister of Shipping Sri. G.K.Vasan said: “DCI has placed order for three dredgers after he took over after a gap of almost ten years. He stated it hoped that with the addition of these dredgers DCI and further addition of two more higher capacity 9000 Cu.M hopper capacity dredgers DCI will be able to cater almost 100% of the dredging requirements in the country.”

The first in the series of three DCI THDS dredgers DCI Dredger XIX joined in the fleet of DCI on 22nd December 2012 last year. Third dredger of the latest class would join the DCI fleet by Feb 2014 , he stated.

Elaborating on the new dredgers, Capt. D.K.Mohanty stated that these are state of dredgers with most modern technology and would help in a long way in improving the efficiency of the Company.

The DCI Dredger XX vessel is of steel construction, with an overall length of 114 m, breadth 21.3 m and depth 7.5 m, with a gross tonnage of 6970.

The dredging depth is approximately 25 m, with a hopper capacity of 5,500 cm.

Dredge XX has a manoeuvring speed of 14.1 knots to operate in strong currents and has the capacity of delivering high productivity, reliability and effective dredging operation as well as low power consumption and operational cost.

It is fully equipped to deliver all kinds of marine services like maintenance dredging, shore pumping, rain bowing, beach nourishment and land reclamation. The vessel will be deployed amongst others for the maintenance and dredging projects on the Indian coast.

DCI Dredge XX is specially designed for this task taking into account the typical Indian topography of the sea bed soil, along with the strong currents at shallow depths. It is expected that the DCI Dredge XX will have a high productivity, reliability and efficiency capabilities, as well as low power consumption and operational costs.

At present, DCI dredgers are engaged in Kolkata, Paradip, Ennore, Kandla and Kochin Ports. Besides the major ports and non-major ports, DCI also carries out dredging works for Indian Navy and shipyards.

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Press Release, July 27, 2013