Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) has signed agreement with HC Holland B V to build a hopper suction dredger with a hopper capacity of 12,000 cubic metres for the Dredging Corporation of India (DCI). The deal worth about ₹800 crore will be completed with technology and design support from IHC Holland. CSL had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with IHC in November 2020 for collaboration on technology and design for high capacity, complex dredgers. Most of the big dredgers operated by Indian dredging companies are built by IHC Holland.
CSLhas necessary infrastructure to build larger dredgers, especially concerning the construction of the larger Cutter Suction Dredgers (CSD) and Trailing Suction Hopper Dredgers (TSHD).
IHC Holland IHC Beagle 12 is analogous to the dredger which CSL is tasked to build. IHC Beagle 12 can dredge 36 meter with 2 x 900mm diameter Suction tubes. The 19,100 DWT dredger has 9 meter maximum draught and a speed of 15 Knots.
DCI has a fleet of 11 trailing suction hopper dredgers with a hopper capacity ranging from 4500 cubic meters to 7400 cubic meters. It is planning to expand its fleet with a new 8,000-12,000 cubic metre hopper capacity dredger. Adani Group has two 8000 cubic meters Trailing Suction Hopper Dredgers (TSHDs) from IHC Holland taking the total number of 19 dredgers, making it the largest dredging company in India. DCI has 14 dredgers including two cutter section dredgers and one backhoe dredger.