Archive · 19 May 2025
India's Largest Dredger Nears Completion at Cochin Shipyard
India is building a giant ship called the DCI Dredge Godavari to help make its ports bigger and better.
Think of it like a giant vacuum cleaner for the sea.
It will suck up sand and dirt to make waterways deeper.
The ship is being built in India with help from a company in the Netherlands.
About half of the ship is done, and it should be ready in a year or so.
This is a big deal because it will help India improve its shipping and trade, making it more self-reliant.
The ship is expected to cost around ₹950 crore.
Construction of DCI Dredge Godavari is about 40% complete.
The vessel is being built at Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL).
The keel was laid in September 2024, with the launch planned for July 2025.
The dredger will be a Trailing Suction Hopper Dredger (TSHD) with a 12,000 cubic meter hopper capacity.
The project is part of India's 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' initiative, supported by Royal IHC of the Netherlands.
- Who
- DCI Dredge Godavari is being built for the Dredging Corporation of India Limited (DCI).
- What
- Construction of the DCI Dredge Godavari, India's largest and most advanced dredger, is underway.
- When
- Construction began in September 2024, with launch scheduled for July 2025 and delivery expected by December 2025 or January 2026.
- Where
- Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) in Kochi, India.
- Why
- The dredger aims to increase the capacity of major Indian ports as part of the Maritime India Vision (MIV-2030) and the 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' initiative.
- Vessel Name
- DCI Dredge Godavari
- Type
- Trailing Suction Hopper Dredger (TSHD)
- Hopper Capacity
- 12,000 cubic metres
- Builder
- Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL)
- Collaboration
- Royal IHC (Netherlands)
- Length
- 127 metres
- Width
- 28 metres
- Estimated Cost
- ₹950 crore