1. About Sagar Samriddhi

The National Technology Centre for Ports, Waterways, and Coasts (NTCPWC), the MoPSW’s technology arm, created this system.The system replaces the previous Draught & Loading Monitor (DLM) system. The method seeks to improve efficiency and contract management while also encouraging the proper reuse of dredged material. It is consistent with the visions of Atmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India.

2. About NTCPWC

• The NTCPWC was founded at IIT Madras in April 2023 as part of the MoPSW’s Sagarmala Programme, with a total cost of RS 77 Crores.
• The center’s mission is to facilitate marine sector R&D, enabling solutions toward the ultimate goal of developing a thriving marine industry in the country.
• This cutting-edge facility offers world- class capabilities for conducting 2D and 3D research and consultation studies for the Port, Coastal, and Waterways sectors across all disciplines.

3. Capabilities

• Real time dredging progress report.
• Daily and monthly progress visualisation.
• Dredger performance and downtime monitoring.
• Easy location track data with snapshot of loading, unloading and idle time.

4. Importance

• The following can be achieved by the use of technology:
  • Timely completion of projects.
  • Lower dredging cost.
  • Increased transparency & efficiency.
  • Promotion of environmentally sustainable projects .
• The yearly maintenance of dredging at Major Ports & Waterways is around 100 million cubic meters, for which the Ports & IWAI spends approximately Rs.1000 crores per year.
• The dredging cost will be greatly reduced by adopting the Addendum and employing the ‘Sagar Samriddhi’ method, assuring transparency & efficiency.
• The approach improves project planning, lowers operational costs, and speeds up the building of deep draught ports.

5. About Dredging

• Dredging is the process of removing sediments and debris from the bottoms of lakes, rivers, harbors, and other bodies of water.
• Sedimentation, the natural process of sand and silt pouring downstream, progressively fills channels and harbors in streams all over the world.

6. Some Important Data

• Cargo Traffic at Major Ports : 795 MT (FY 2021-22)
• Growth rate in the cargo handled by Major Ports : 10.4%
• Total Cargo Capacity of all Indian Ports : 2 MTPA (FY 2020-21)
• Maritime Transport Accounts for India’s external trade by:
  • Approximately 95% (by volume)
  • 68% (by value)