Royal IHC and Cochin Shipyard to build world class Indian TSHD dredger
Royal IHC and Cochin Shipyard Limited have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to work together to provide a world class trailing suction hopper dredger to be locally built for Dredging Corporation of India (DCI).
The MoU was signed in New Delhi on 24 February and the construction was further formalised at the Maritime Indian Summit on 2 March.
More dredging capacity
The MoU between Royal IHC and Cochin Shipyard aims at designing and building an advanced 8,000m3 and/or 12,000m3 trailing suction hopper dredger for DCI to meet the increasing demand in India for port maintenance and dredging services. With this new dredger, DCI will extend their fleet of currently ten trailing suction hopper dredgers. All of them have been built by Royal IHC in the Netherlands.
At the Maritime Indian Summit prime minister Shri Narendra Modi officially announced the new 2030-vision of the maritime sector and the government investment plans for Indian ports and waterways. The vision includes over 400 projects and cleared the way for the construction of DCI’s new 'world class' dredger at an Indian ship yard.
Complex dredging equipment
Royal IHC will deliver the design and engineering package for the vessel. Furthermore, it includes the hardware delivery of IHC-designed, state-of-the-art dredging installation. Throughout the building process, Royal IHC will assist Cochin Shipyard to make sure that the installation of the dredge equipment package is executed at the best level.
High capacity dredgers in the range of 8000m3 to 12,000m3 are complex equipment and have never been built in India before. With this MoU three major companies within the ‘Make in India’ campaign are joining forces to have the first dredger of this size locally built in India.
US design package
Royal IHC’s Indian deal follows a design and engineering contract for a 6,500yd3 (5,000md3) trailing suction hopper dredge (TSHD) for U.S. based Cashman Dredging. With that order Royal IHC will also deliver technological know-how for the construction of one of the most state-of-the-art dredging vessels in the United States.
According to Royal IHC the vessel, once completed, will help position Cashman Dredging for the most challenging dredging projects in the United States. The design includes two dredge pumps that enable large discharge distances when operated in series. Furthermore, it features two suction tubes enabling operation in most conditions by either using both tubes or just one in a strong current scenario. The vessel’s shallow draft allows sailing close to shore.
