Cochin Shipyard Lays Keel For India’s Largest Dredger, DCI Dredge Godavari

Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) has successfully laid the keel of India’s largest dredger, “DCI Dredge Godavari.”

The vessel, a Trailing Suction Hopper Dredger (TSHD) with a hopper capacity of 12,000 cubic meters, is being built for the Dredging Corporation of India Limited (DCI) as part of the government’s ‘Make in India’ and ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiatives.

The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, remotely presided over the keel-laying ceremony.

Many prominent dignitaries attended the ceremony virtually, including the Ambassador of the Netherlands to India, Her Excellency Ms Marisa Gerards, and Dr M. Angamuthu, Chairperson of the Vishakhapatnam Port Authority (VPA) and DCI.

Shri Durgeshkumar, MD of DCI, and Shri Madhu S Nair, CMD of CSL, were present, along with other senior officials from the companies and their Dutch partner, Royal IHC.

This cutting-edge dredger is being built in partnership with Royal IHC, the Netherlands, a global leader in dredger design and construction. Once operational, the DCI Dredge Godavari will be the most advanced dredger ever built in India.

The vessel is expected to significantly improve DCI’s dredging capabilities, which is the largest dredging company in the country, also contributing to India’s growing maritime sector, as specified in the Maritime India Vision 2030 (MIV-2030).

The vessel, measuring 127 meters in length and 28 meters in width, is being built on Royal IHC’s globally recognized “Beagle” platform, with modifications to meet Indian requirements.

Once operational, it will play an essential role in expanding dredging capacity at major ports across the country, thereby helping the government’s port-led development initiatives.

Officials from the Indian Navy, Cochin Port Authority, and other stakeholders, along with representatives from Royal IHC, Netherlands, CSL and DCI, attended the ceremony physically at Cochin Shipyard.

Reference: Cochin Shipyard