The Indian dredging market is driven largely by the trade segment, with dredging demand coming from major and non-major ports. At present, the annual dredging market in India for major ports is estimated to be approximately 80 million cubic metres (MCM), and the total dredging market stands at about 121 MCM Indian ports are gearing themselves up to handle more cargo by accommodating deep draft vessels, and aspire to meet international port infrastructure standards in order to achieve economies of scale. As a result, ports are taking measures to improve basic infrastructure such as deepening and widening channels, creating new dock arms, and implementing automation.
History of DCI
The Dredging Corporation of India (DCI) was formed in 1976 to provide dredging services to major ports in India. It became a public company listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange as well as the Kolkata Stock Exchange in 1992, and the first disinvestment took place in the same year. DCI also received Mini Ratna status as a public sector utility in 1999. Subsequently, in 2004, it was listed on the National Stock Exchange, and in the same year it disinvested about 20 per cent stake. In 2015, the third disinvestment took place, with the sale of 5 per cent stake. In 2016, 0.09 per cent stake was sold to employees. A major change took place in 2019, when a strategic share of 73.47 per cent in the company was taken up by the major ports – Vishakhapatnam Port Trust (19.47 per cent), Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (18 per cent), Paradip Port Trust (18 per cent) and Deendayal Port Trust (18 per cent), with the share of financial institutions and the public being about 26.53 per cent.
DCI is headquartered in Visakhapatnam and has regional offices in Mumbai, Kolkata, Pradip and Cochin. The business portfolio of DCI includes maintenance dredging, capital dredging, beach nourishment, land reclamation, project management consultancy, sand mining and inland dredging.
Fleet and equipment of DCI
DCI’s fleet and equipment includes 10 trailing suction hopper dredgers (TSHDs), one cutter suction dredger, one backhoe dumb (non-propelled) dredger, one inland cutter suction dredger and auxiliary craft to assist the main fleet. The dredgers have a maximum dredging depth of about 25 metres, with the deepest one having 8.5 cubic metres of capacity, and the highest one about 7,500 cubic metres. Of these 10 dredgers, seven have short pumping facilities that can pump up to 2.5 km.
DCI, with its hopper capacity of 59,000 cubic metres, can dredge up to 65 million cubic metres per annum. In order to meet the balance market requirement, it is currently partially outsourcing work. It plans to eventually augment its capacity enough to meet the entire demand on its own. The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways granted approval to DCI for procuring three TSHDs with 12,000 cubic metre hopper capacity – the first in 2021, the second in 2023 and the third in 2026. Work on the first TSHD is currently at an advanced stage. It is to be built at Cochin Shipyard Limited under the Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives. This is not only the first 12,000 cubic metre hopper capacity TSHD being built in an Indian yard, but also the world’s first Beagle-12 series dredger.
Contracting practices
Contracting practices have evolved over the past decade. Till 2004, all ports, with the exception of Kolkata, could issue tenders or engage in negotiations with DCI for executing projects on a nomination basis. Preference was given to DCI if bids were requested. All ports besides Kolkata were permitted to issue tenders between 2004 and 2007, and DCI was given a 10 per cent priority over the lowest technically competent bidder. All significant ports, with the exception of Kolkata, could issue tenders between 2007 and 2015, and Indian companies using Indian flag dredgers could offer bids up to 10 per cent greater than the lowest amount, as well as exercise their right to reject. All ports could issue open requests for proposal for capital and maintenance dredging projects from 2015 through 2021.
After the introduction of dredging rules in 2021, the promoter ports of DCI are now permitted, with the consent of the board, to award their dredging works to DCI on nomination basis. Currently, DCI has four promoter ports – the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority, Vishakhapatnam Port Authority, Paradip Port Authority and Kandla Port Authority.
Key developments
At present, DCI is catering to 10 of the 12 major ports. Three dredges have been deployed at Syama Prasad Mookerjee (SMP) Port – dredges 12, 14 and 21. These are shallow dredge vessels, with a minimum draft of about 3.5 metres. They were designed for Haldia, and are always deployed at SMP Port. Two dredgers, 15 and 16, are in use at Paradip Port for maintenance dredging operations.
DCI and Cochin Shipyard Limited signed an MoU in February 2021. DCI has deployed two vessels there – one with a capacity of 7,500 cubic metres, and another with approximately 5,500 cubic metres of capacity. DCI is also carrying out reclamation work for Numaligarh Refinery Limited at Paradip port. The governments of Kerala and Rajasthan are in discussions with DCI over desalination works. DCI has also signed an MoU with the National Highways Authority of India for the supply of sand to the latter. Recently, DCI signed an MoU with Gujarat Fisheries and intends to sign another with Kerala Fisheries. It has plans of expanding to fishing harbours and lagoons for dredging works.
Plans ahead
Going forward, DCI aims to strengthen its core business, maintenance dredging. Efforts are also being made to modify new dredges in order to capture the maximum share in maintenance dredging. The company intends to reduce weight and enhance dredger capacity. Further, it plans to increase competency in capital dredging works, and expand into inland dredging. Additionally, a dredging institute will be developed to create a talent pool of dredging experts.
The development of new greenfield ports will drive the demand for dredging in the domestic market. Paradip is also coming up with new dock arms, which will be operational soon. Meanwhile, the Andhra Pradesh Maritime Board plans to develop three ports – Ramayapatnam, Bhavanapadu and Machilipatnam.
Based on inputs from Captain S. Divakar, MD & CEO, DCI, at a recent India Infrastructure Conference
