DREDGING AT MAJOR PORTS

Now we would like to call your attention to problem of dredging in the Indian Ports .Dredging has been the most important activity for many ports ! to maintain themselves .Here , Vizhinjam comes a breath of fresh air ,with no need for any significant maintenance dredging .

The following is an excerpt from “THE FIFTY-SEVENTH REPORT ON DEMANDS FOR GRANTS (2002-2003), (DEMAND NO. 77) OF THE MINISTRY OF SHIPPING” prepared by the department-related parliamentary standing committee on transport & tourism


25 Dredging is the key function of any Major Port so as to maintain adequate navigable depth of the shipping channel. Dredging is generally classified into capital dredging and maintenance dredging. Capital dredging is done as part of port development, where as, Maintenance dredging has to be done regularly to maintain the depth of shipping channel. Dredging Corporation of India Ltd. is the premier company set up in 1976 to cater to the dredging needs of the Major Ports of the country on contract basis. It caters to about 65% of the maintenance dredging needs of the country.
26. In his deposition before the Committee, the Secretary, Ministry of Shipping explained that the Ministry is facing a lot of problems in respect of dredging. As no budgetary support is at present given to Major Ports for the development and expansion, the capital dredging, to the extent possible are also done by the port themselves, either through their own resources or from the borrowed funds. However, the ports are not in a position to spare adequate funds for capital dredging. At present, big vessels are not operating in our Ports. As much as 68 to 70% of the transshipment is being done outside the country. Countries like Sri Lanka, Dubai and Singapore have gained at our expense.
27. In the present age of information and modernization, shipping industry is encountering with the fast changes i.e. increased sizes of ship. The bigger ships result into a substantial reduction in freight and as such are preferred by shippers. But these bigger ships are unable to call on indian ports because these ships need greater depth and wider channel. Most of the Indian ports suffer from draft limitations. In case the draft is not in improved by undertaking, Capital dredging, the future of Major Ports would be at stake because they will not be in a position to retain their volume of traffic. Therefore, the capital dredging at a number of Indian Major Ports is basic requirement for the long-term survival of Ports and improving competitiveness of Indian trade. In a developed country like United States of America, the requirement of capital dredging is stated to be made by the state.
28. The Committee notes that Major Ports are spending large amount on the capital dredging either through their own resources or from the borrowed funds, which has definitely affected their financial performance. It is also a fact that for the ports, it is difficult to raise borrowings for capital dredging because it may not result into commensurate incremental resources. The Committee, therefore, recommends that capital dredging at all the Major Ports should be taken as national priority by the Government of India. The Government of India, as a matter of policy should provide adequate plan funds to all the Major Ports for carrying out Capital Dredging at the Ports.”