In a major development, Dredging Corporation of India Limited (DCIL) has signed 22 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) worth Rs 176.45 billion (Rs 17,645 crore) with 16 ports and organisations to strengthen India’s dredging capabilities and support long-term port infrastructure growth.

The agreements were formalised with leading ports including Visakhapatnam Port, Paradip Port, Jawaharlal Nehru Port, Deendayal Port, Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Cochin Port, Chennai Port, and Mumbai Port to meet dredging requirements over the next two to five years.

Under its modernisation drive aligned with Atmanirbhar Bharat, DCIL also signed a pact with Cochin Shipyard Limited for the construction and repair of dredgers, ensuring domestic capability enhancement. Another agreement with NMDC Abu Dhabi establishes a joint venture (JV) to collaborate with international partners and strengthen operational efficiency and global competitiveness.

DCIL further entered into an MoU with Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML) for indigenisation of dredger components and construction of inland dredgers, and with the National Technology Centre for Ports, Waterways and Coasts (NTCPWC) at IIT Madras for a JV focused on Bathymetry Surveys across Indian ports and the development of dredging training modules.

Speaking at the signing event, M. Angamuthu, Chairman of DCIL, expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways for their support. He referred to the Prime Minister’s announcement during India Maritime Week 2025, where a Rs 40 billion (Rs 4,000 crore) investment for DCIL’s modernisation was unveiled under the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision. This includes the construction of 11 advanced dredgers, technological upgrades, automation, and workforce development initiatives.

“These MoUs will enable DCIL to meet the dredging needs that form the lifeline of ports, upgrade its fleet, localise dredger components, and expand capacity through new vessel construction,” said Angamuthu.

Capt. S. Divakar, Managing Director and CEO (A/C) of DCIL, highlighted that the corporation is India’s leading dredging company and the agreements would further consolidate its leadership position. DCIL currently operates a fleet of 10 trailing suction hopper dredgers (TSHDs) with a combined capacity of around 60,000 cubic metres, handling approximately 50–60 million cubic metres of dredging annually, equivalent to 55 per cent of India’s total requirement.

With the addition of new vessels, DCIL aims to expand its footprint in the global dredging market, aligning with the Government’s broader Maritime India Vision 2030. The initiative also supports India’s long-term goals for sustainable growth in the maritime and blue economy sectors.