DCI to acquire Rs 253-cr dredger from Mazagon Dock

State-owned Dredging Corporation of India Limited (DCI) has placed an order with Mazagon Dock Limited, Mumbai, for construction of a dump-cutter suction dredger of 2,000 cubic metres solids per hour pumping capacity.

"To meet the capital dredging requirements of several minor ports coming up in the country, we need some more cutter suction dredgers in our fleet. Therefore, we are adding a new dredger at a cost of about Rs 253 crore," DCI sources told Business Standard. With Rs 900 crore cash reserves at its disposal, DCI also plans to acquire another trailer suction dredger at a cost of about Rs 300 crore.

At present, DCI has 10 trailer suction dredgers and two cutter suction dredgers with a cumulative dredging capacity of 798 lakh cubic metres. With this new dredger, the dredging capacity would increase by about 80 lakh cubic metres.

During 2004-05, the quantity dredged under various contracts was 723 lakh cubic metres, which represents 91 per cent of DCI's capacity.

Mazagon Dock, in collaboration with Vosta LMG, Germany, will construct the vessel, which is expected to be delivered within 24 months. This dredger would be used mainly in capital dredging works.

Apart from this, DCI is in the process of finalising tenders to procure a 5,000-hopper capacity trailer suction dredger, which can be used in the maintenance of dredging works. This is expected to cost about Rs 300 crore. Four foreign dredger construction companies are in the fray to get this job. "Within a couple of months, we will finalise the company and place the order," sources said.

In fact, DCI had decided to acquire these dredgers two years back but due to delay in tendering process and permission from the government, it has taken two years to place orders in spite of possessing sufficient funds.