DCIL completes critical rock dredging project at JNPA

Visakhapatnam: Vizag-headquartered Dredging Corporation of India Limited (DCIL) has completed the technically challenging rock dredging project at the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA).

The project held significant strategic importance for JNPA, as the rock dredging works had remained incomplete for a considerable period and were critical to achieving and maintaining the required navigational draft for seamless port operations.The completion of the project has enabled JNPA and its terminal operator to maintain the desired depth for vessel navigation, thereby enhancing operational efficiency, improving port productivity and ensuring uninterrupted business operations.The project was executed at an operational brownfield berth, requiring the facility to be taken over, worked on and handed back within a compressed timeframe. The assignment also involved dismantling and refitting 16-berth fenders, adding significant complexity to the execution.In addition, the work site was located adjacent to a liquid cargo berth and an active landing jetty, necessitating stringent safety measures and operational controls.

As drilling and blasting operations were carried out in proximity to existing marine structures, critical parameters such as vibration levels, shear forces, crack propagation and structural response had to be continuously monitored by independent technical agencies.Blasting operations were restricted to daytime hours, reducing the available execution window by nearly 50 percent. Given the sensitivity of the operations, a comprehensive risk mitigation framework, including Rs 200-crore insurance cover for the adjoining jetty infrastructure, was put in place.To ensure the highest standards of safety and technical oversight, renowned institutions, including Anna University, Chennai, the National Institute of Rock Mechanics, Bengaluru, and the National Institute of Technology Karnataka, Surathkal, were engaged to independently monitor and validate the project throughout its execution.According to DCIL officials, the successful completion of the project has set a benchmark for the execution of complex rock dredging works in India. They said the project underscores DCIL’s technical expertise, project management capabilities and commitment to delivering challenging maritime infrastructure projects that support India’s port-led development and economic growth.