India: Visakhapatnam Port Dredging Completed

Dredging at the Visakhapatnam outer harbour has been completed in record time despite the immense complexity and volume of work, reports The Times of India.

As a result of year-round harbour dredging, the harbour’s depth has been increased to 20 metres, and is now one of the deepest harbours in India.

“VGCB will assist Vizag Port in attracting the biggest ships to the port, which will not only bring more tonnage, the much-required revenue and generate new employment but also drastically reduce pollution by handling coal with its fully mechanized and state-of-the art facility. In times to come, VGCB will not only help VPT recover its number one spot among major ports, but also help VPT become the most economical, fastest and preferred port in India,” said DK Manral, chief executive officer of Vizag General Cargo Berth terminal.

The successful completion of dredging works enabled larger ships to dock at this Indian port.

With the docking of the Cape class vessel MV NGM Sailor, Visakhapatnam harbour has proven its importance in the spheres of coal handling and storage.

According to a previous article on Visakhapatnam dredging by The Times of India, the Japan International Cooperation Agency has provided a loan to cover the dredging costs.

A major administrative and commercial center in the state of Andhra Pradesh, the Port of Visakhapatnam, also called Vizag, is an important ship-building center as well as the headquarters of Dredging Corporation of India.

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Dredging Today Staff, March 11, 2014