Dredging Corporation of India, a mini ratna public sector company with headquarters in the city, is bracing up to deploy DCI Dredge IX to increase draft of northern arm of Visakhapatnam Port to enable berthing of Panamax vessels in the inner harbour.
After a keen tussle with Dharti Dredging and Infrastructure Ltd (DDIL), which bagged the project for dredging and removal of rock strata at turning circle and LPG jetty in the inner harbour, the port issued the Letter of Intent to DCI on Monday. The work order is likely to be issued anytime.
“Dredge IX, the trailer suction hopper dredger, will be deployed shortly after it completes repairs at the dry dock of Hindustan Shipyard Limited,” DCI Chairman and Managing Director Capt. D.K. Mohanty told The Hindu . The cost of the project is Rs.34.86 crore.
At present, Dharti is dredging the channel area by resorting to blasting. The port is allowing dredging on alternate days so as to not stop shipping activity. The inner harbour has 17 berths. The port wants to allow the dredging time for six hours each Dharti and DCI by suspending shipping activity.
Cargo handling is expected to gain momentum once draft of inner habour is raised to allow berthing of Panamax vessels without lightening. Adani, which recently completed state-of-the-art coal handling terminal is waiting for completion of dredging for berthing of Panamax vessels to commission its activity.
DCI is expected to excavate one million cubic metres and raise the depth from 14 to 16.1 metres. International Dredging Seaport Limited completed the outer harbour dredging during November last year at a cost of Rs.130 crore. Dharti has been awarded the dredging contract for inner channel and inner turning circle of inner harbour for an amount of Rs.212 crore.
