Marg Constructions acquires a dredger

Chennai: Chennai construction firm, Marg Constructions Limited, which is developing a port at Karaikal has acquired the dredger Marg Cauvery for Rs.52 crore.

According to G R K Reddy, managing director, the machine is a non-propelled cutter suction dredger which can dredge at depths in the range of 5 to 25 metres and has a capacity of 2000 cubic metre per hour.

While the dredger will be initially used in the construction of the Karaikal port, Reddy says the machine would also enter the domestic dredging market.

According to him one of the major challenges faced by the port industry is the inadequate draught in the existing ports for handling post panamax and capsize vessels and huge oil tankers.

He said, the National Maritime Development Programme (NMDP) has envisaged substantial investments in dredging/deepening of existing ports. Further several captive and other private sector ports are being developed all along the country''s long coast enhancing the demand for dredging.

Reddy said the Indian dredging market is estimated at Rs650 crore comprising of Rs600 crore of maintenance dredging and Rs50 crore of capital dredging or dredging for new ports.