New strategic shareholder may acquire 5–10% stake as dredging major expands capacity.

DCI Plans to Add Fifth Major Port Authority via ₹900-Crore Rights Issue.

Mumbai-listed Dredging Corporation of India Ltd (DCI) is planning to induct one more state-owned major port authority as a strategic partner during its proposed ₹900 crore rights issue, approved by the board in February. The new shareholder is expected to acquire a 5–10 per cent stake by subscribing to the portion forgone by existing port shareholders. Currently, DCI is owned by four major port authorities—Visakhapatnam Port Authority, Paradip Port Authority, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority, and Deendayal Port Authority—which together acquired the Centre’s 73.47% stake in 2019. DCI is now in talks with the Chennai Port Authority, the New Mangalore Port Authority, and the Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port Authority to onboard a fifth partner. The rights issue will also support fleet expansion, enabling DCI to fully meet India’s annual dredging demand with its own vessels, including new high-capacity dredgers under construction at Cochin Shipyard Ltd.