Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) has reached a significant milestone in India’s maritime sector by laying the keel for the country’s largest dredger, the “DCI Dredge Godavari.”
The Trailing Suction Hopper Dredger (TSHD), boasting a hopper capacity of 12,000 cubic meters, is being constructed for the Dredging Corporation of India Limited (DCI). This major project is part of the Indian government’s ‘Make in India’ and ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiatives, aimed at bolstering indigenous manufacturing and self-reliance.
The keel-laying ceremony was conducted remotely by Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, with virtual participation from critical dignitaries, including the Ambassador of the Netherlands to India, Her Excellency Ms. Marisa Gerards. In-person attendees at the Cochin Shipyard included senior officials from CSL, DCI, and Royal IHC Netherlands and representatives from the Indian Navy and Cochin Port Trust.
The “DCI Dredge Godavari” is being built in collaboration with Royal IHC, a global dredger design and construction leader. Once completed, this state-of-the-art vessel will be the most sophisticated and technologically advanced dredger ever built in India. It is expected to significantly enhance the capabilities of DCI, the most prominent Indian dredging company, and support the development of major Indian ports as outlined in the Maritime India Vision (MIV-2030).
Measuring 127 meters in length and 28 meters in breadth, the dredger is constructed on Royal IHC’s renowned “Beagle” platform and tailored to meet Indian operational requirements. This high-capacity dredger is anticipated to be crucial in advancing India’s dredging capabilities and supporting the growth of the coastal and inland shipping sectors.