Repairs abroad if needed, but shipbuilding stays firmly in India.

DCI to Build All New Dredgers Only at Indian Shipyards, Clarifies CEO Capt Divakar.

State-run Dredging Corporation of India Ltd (DCI) will place orders for new dredgers exclusively with Indian shipyards, its MD and CEO Capt S Divakar clarified, addressing concerns raised by domestic shipbuilders. The clarification follows a Memorandum of Understanding signed with Colombo Dockyard PLC, which DCI said is strictly limited to vessel repairs, refurbishment and dry docking. Capt Divakar explained that Indian repair yards are currently overbooked, causing delays of up to 90 days and impacting the operational availability of capital-intensive dredgers. Since DCI vessels already pass Colombo during coastal transits, the Sri Lankan yard offers a practical repair stop. He reiterated that under the Atmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiatives, 11 new dredgers worth ₹4,000 crore will be built domestically. DCI aims to meet 100% of India’s dredging needs by 2030, while supporting the country’s broader shipbuilding push backed by a ₹1.69 lakh crore government package.