By Mercedes James
In early 2021, the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) issued Tenders for the procurement of eight 24˝ cutter suction dredges and ancillary vessels with other accessories. The BIWTA is under the Shipping Ministry and is responsible for overall management and development of the inland waterways. Bangladesh has approximately 24,000 km of rivers, streams, and canals but only 5,968 km are navigable during the monsoon period and only 3,865 km during the dry period. Dredging the waterways is a priority of the Government.
In 2022, Khulna Shipyard Limited in Bangladesh was awarded two of the four tender lots for the supply of four 24” cutter suction dredges with accessories from BIWTA and signed a contract with Gemcon Marine Engineering Limited of Gemcon Group, a Bangladeshi conglomerate for the supply of design and machinery package of all the equipment. DSC Dredge, LLC of Reserve, Louisiana, USA, was selected to provide the custom design and machinery components package for the four 24” cutter suction dredges.
While DSC Dredge has been supplying cutter suction dredges to private companies in Bangladesh since 2010, this is the first public sector contract to supply BIWTA. The 24” dredges will be powered by Caterpillar 3516 and C32 marine diesel engines and will have a digging depth capability of 17 m below the water surface.
DSC Dredge currently exports to over 52 countries and has been awarded the President’s “E” Award for excellence in exports and the President’s “E Star” Award twice, 1 of only 3 companies in the USA who have had this highest honor from the US Department of Commerce.
In 2022 at the invitation of the US Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) under the US Department of Commerce, the State Minister of Shipping for Bangladesh, the Honorable Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury led a team of Government Officials and other distinguished decision makers including BIWTA and Gemcon to the USA to meet with US Government agencies and visit DSC headquarters and manufacturing facility in Louisiana. The group discussed the Bangladesh Government Delta 2100 initiative to mitigate the impacts of flooding and increased sediment build-up by dredging major rivers and waterways. This Reverse Trade Mission allowed DSC to showcase its innovative dredge technology to the end users. With support from the US Department of Commerce, the Advocacy Center, the US Embassy in Dhaka, USTDA all contributed to a successful export contract for DSC.
DSC Director of International Dredge Sales, Charlies Sinunu is currently in Dhaka Bangladesh meeting with the various representatives attached to the projects and visiting with our other clients internationally.
Shipments of components are scheduled to start the summer of 2024 with completion in the spring of 2025.
About DSC Dredge
DSC Dredge is a global leader in the dredge manufacturing industry, engineering superior customized dredging solutions to meet specific application needs, while continuing to exceed customer expectations. DSC designs and manufactures high quality, durable cutter suction and underwater pump mining dredges. At DSC Dredge, we help customers make THE RIGHT CHOICE. Quality, Innovation, Service, Commitment and Customization are key DSC attributes which explain the reasons customers choose to work with DSC. DSC Dredge operates from two manufacturing facilities located in Reserve, LA, and Poplarville, MS. For more information about the company and its products, services and customized solutions, please visit www.dscdredge.com and follow us on Social Media.
In Photo: Charlie Sinunu (DSC Dredge), Omar Sharif (Tahin), Khulna Shipyard Commodore and Staff
