Dredging in India plays a crucial role in maintaining navigable waterways, ports, and harbors. The country has invested significantly in dredging projects to enhance transportation and infrastructure.
With over 14,500 km of navigable waterways, including rivers, canals, and creeks, India has recognized the importance of dredging to ensure adequate depth for vessels, especially during monsoon seasons. The National Waterways Act of 2016 declared 106 waterways as National Waterways, expanding the focus on water transportation infrastructure.
Dredging in India plays a critical role in maintaining and developing the country’s maritime infrastructure, supporting port operations, coastal protection, and inland waterway development. Here are some key aspects of dredging in India:
Dredging is essential for maintaining adequate depths in ports and harbors to accommodate large vessels. Many of India’s major ports require regular dredging to ensure navigability.
India is investing in developing its inland waterway infrastructure to facilitate cargo movement and reduce transportation costs. Dredging is crucial for maintaining and developing these waterways, such as the Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers.
Dredging plays a role in coastal protection by replenishing eroded beaches and restoring coastal habitats. It is used to create sand dunes and barriers to protect coastal areas from erosion and storm surges.
Dredging activities must adhere to environmental regulations to minimize their impact on marine ecosystems. This includes proper disposal of dredged material and mitigation of disturbances to marine life.
Also Read, What is Dredger & Types of Dredgers in the Marine Industry
Major Dredging Companies operating in India
Several government and private companies are involved in dredging operations in India. The Dredging Corporation of India (DCI) is a major player in the sector, along with private firms like Adani Ports and SEZ, Mercator Limited, and others.
1. Dredging Corporation Of India
The Dredging Corporation of India Limited (DCI) was established in the year 1976 to provide dredging services to the Major Ports of the country in India. DCI is a pioneer organization in the field of dredging and maritime development and operated under Ministry Of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
DCI is fully equipped to offer the complete range of dredging and allied services to the users in India and Abroad and to provide the vital inputs for the national development. It’s Head Office is strategically situated on the east coast of India at Visakhapatnam, DCI helps to ensure continuous availability of the desired depths in the shipping channels of the major and minor Ports, Indian Navy, Fishing Harbors and other maritime organizations.
It further serves the Nation in a variety of ways, be it capital dredging for creation of new harbors, deepening of existing harbors or maintenance dredging for the upkeep of the required depths at various Ports along the 7,500 Kms coastline of India.
Official DCI Website, Link here
2. Adani Ports & logistics
Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZL) provides Dredging and Reclamation solutions primarily for port and harbor construction. The Adani Group started investing in developing a dredging fleet in 2005 to achieve planned high paced growth in the port sector. It has been a major success story since then and APSEZL today operates a large fleet of 23 dredgers and of the largest capital dredging capacity in India.
APSEZ, besides owning dredgers, has a large fleet of support vessels and equipment such as Multi Utility Crafts, Survey vessels, Floating cranes, Jack up barges, etc. This equipment is operated and maintained by our team of over 1000 personnel. Well maintained dredgers, highly motivated and trained personnel, in-house innovative workshop, dry dock facilities and survey support are the vital strengths enabling efficient operation.
In the recent past the Ministry of Shipping, Government of India has proposed many development initiatives for marine infrastructure development in the coastal and inland waters of India. We, at APSEZ, are geared up with the precise equipment and expertise to ensure realization of such challenges in an efficient and cost effective manner.
Adani Ports Website, Link here
Key points about Dredging Sector in India
Investment Disparity A comparison with China reveals a significant difference in investment, with India investing Rs. 1,605 crore from 2014 to 2018, while China invested Rs. 1,09,000 crore from 2005 to 2010, highlighting the need for increased investment in India’s dredging sector.
National Waterway 1 (NW1) Project: The NW1 project on the river Ganga aims to enhance cargo movement on vessels up to 1,500 to 2,000 tonnes. It includes the construction of multi-modal terminals at Varanasi, Sahibganj, and Haldia, along with a new navigation lock at Farakka.
Future Opportunities: The Indian dredging industry is poised for significant growth, with over 25 dredging projects planned or underway at major ports. The sector anticipates a demand to dredge around 170 million cubic meters at existing major ports alone, presenting ample opportunities for private players.
Challenges and the Way Forward
To realize the full potential of the dredging sector, attention is needed in defining contracts, managing dredged material, enhancing coordination among stakeholders, expediting government approvals, and establishing repair and dry-docking facilities for dredgers.
Dredging in India faces challenges such as funding constraints, environmental concerns, and the need for advanced technology and skilled manpower. Addressing these challenges is crucial for the sustainable development of India’s maritime infrastructure.
Overall, dredging in India is a critical component of infrastructure development, with ongoing projects and future opportunities driving growth in the sector.
You may also like,
- How fast is a Knot – in Meters per second and Kmph
- Unmanned Machinery Space (UMS) on Ships and its Essential Requirements
- Top LPG, LNG Gas Stocks in India to Invest