India To Soon Make World-Class Dredgers As Cochin Shipyard Signs Pact With World's Largest Dredger Maker

India will soon be making world-class dredgers as the state-owned Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) has decided to partner with Royal IHC, world's largest dredger maker, for manufacturing of dredgers in the country.

On Wednesday (24 February), CSL signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Dredging Corporation of India (DCI) and Royal IHC to make high capacity dredgers in India.

The MoU was signed in the presence of Minister of State for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Mansukh Mandaviya, in Delhi, according to a release by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.

"As part of Government of India’s thrust on Blue Economy, there is an ever-increasing demand to develop and maintain existing major ports, building new ports, offshore resource exploration, deployment of ultra-mega-size vessels, promotion of tourism, and beach nourishment. Considering India's vast coastline of over 7,500 km along the east and west coasts this would in turn lead to significant dredging in the country. This partnership will help the country grow," Mandaviya said.

"CSL and IHC Holland BV have arrived at an understanding to work together to provide locally built world-class dredgers. High-capacity dredgers in the range of 8000 Cu Meter to 12,000 Cu Meter are complex equipment being built in India for the first time," said Madhu S Nair, Cochin Shipyard's Chairman and Managing Director.

According to the release, the Royal IHC is the world leader with largest market share in the world for the design and construction of dredgers and is renowned worldwide for their quality and performance.