Dredging Corporation of India Ltd (DCIL) announced on Saturday that it has signed 22 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with 16 organisations worth a total of ₹17,645 crore during the India Maritime Week 2025, held in Mumbai from October 27 to 31, 2025.
DCIL operates under a consortium of four major ports — Visakhapatnam Port Authority (VPA), Paradip Port Authority (PPA), Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA), and Deendayal Port Authority (DPA) — all functioning under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW).
Major MoUs and Partnerships
The agreements were signed with several major ports — including Visakhapatnam, Paradip, Jawaharlal Nehru, Deendayal, Cochin, Chennai, Mumbai, and Shyam Prasad Mukherjee Port — to meet their dredging requirements for the next two to five years.
A key MoU with Cochin Shipyard focuses on construction and repair of dredgers as part of DCIL’s modernisation and Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives. Another MoU with NMDC Abu Dhabi aims to establish a joint venture to enhance operational efficiency and international competitiveness.
Under the Atmanirbhar Bharat programme, DCIL also partnered with Bharat Earth Movers Ltd (BEML) for indigenisation of dredger spares and construction of inland dredgers. Additionally, a tie-up with IHC seeks to modernise existing dredgers and optimise operational capacity.
A collaboration with the National Technology Centre for Ports, Waterways & Coasts (NTCPWC) at IIT Chennai will form a joint venture to conduct bathymetry surveys across ports and develop training modules to upskill the workforce for future dredging projects.
An MoU with Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL) was also signed to ensure a steady supply of fuel and lubricants for DCIL’s fleet.
DCIL’s Capacity and Market Role
Captain S. Divakar, Managing Director and CEO of DCIL, said the company currently operates a fleet of 10 Trailer Suction Hopper Dredgers (TSHDs) with a combined hopper capacity of about 60,000 cubic meters, handling 50–60 million cubic meters of dredging annually — roughly 55% of India’s total dredging demand.
He added that the addition of new vessels would significantly strengthen DCIL’s market position and expand its operational footprint.
On Friday (November 1), shares of DCIL closed at ₹740.80, up ₹13.45 (1.85%) on the BSE.
