Dredging Activities
Dredging Activities in Inland Waterways by BIWTA
Bangladesh being a riverine country, the requirement of dredging, as a tool for developing and maintaining its navigation channels needs no mention. Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA), under the Ministry of Shipping is vested by the government of Bangladesh to carry out dredging works related to inland waterways.
Dredging Department :Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) executes dredging work in inland river routes by its Dredging Department. Dredging Department of BIWTA was formed in December’2002 as a full-fledged department. Before that this department worked as Waterways Dredging Circle under Engineering Department from inception in 1968 and then as Dredging Unit from July’1992. At Present the department is headed by the Chief Engineer (Dredging) followed by Deputy Chief Engineer (Marine), Superintending Engineer (Mech.), Superintending Engineer (Civil), Executive Engineer (Mech.), Executive Engineer (Civil), Assistant Engineer (Mech.), Assistant Engineer (Civil), Sub-assistant Engineer (Mech.), Sub-assistant Engineer (Civil) posts. There are also office staff, work assistant, and dredger staff. The office of the Dredging Department is in the Head Office of BIWTA in Dhaka and the Dredger Base is located in Narayangonj.
Navigation Dredging :Dredging works, which are executed in order to facilitate development, maintenance and/or operation of waterways, is termed as navigation dredging. Dredging work performed by BIWTA can be subdivided into two broad categories according to the nature of work:
A)Maintenance Dredging: Dredging work which is performed to maintain least available depth (LAD) in the waterways channel is considered as maintenance dredging. BIWTA is mandated to maintain classified waterways for designated water drafts round the year. But due to fund constraint, scarcity of dredgers and other reasons, BIWTA is not in a position to perform this task fully. Besides, considering the national priority more emphasis is put on keeping the ferry crossings across Padma, Jamuna and Meghna rivers navigable, the main waterways network receiving lesser importance. Maintenance dredging works are executed under Revenue Budget of the Government.
B) Development Dredging : Dredging works such as those that are carried out in order to develop a new route or create a new basin for a port fall in this category. Development dredging works are investment projects, which generally involve comparatively huge quantity of earthwork and may relate to developing a new navigation route, resuscitating a dead or dying waterway, making loop-cuts to shorten navigation distance between two points, developing a basin for a new port or improving it for an existing one etc. Development dredging works are implemented as development projects and funded under Annual Development Program of the Government.
Dredging executed during last couple of years by BIWTA is shown in the table below :
Year Development
(Lakh Cum)Maintenance
(Lakh Cum)Miscellaneous
(Lakh Cum)Total
(Lakh Cum)2000-2001 3.68 22.47 4.52 30.67 2001-2002 7.62 21.53 1.64 30.79 2002-2003 9.54 20.99 1.00 31.53 2003-2004 13.71 18.47 -- 32.18 2004-2005 15.85 18.87 0.08 34.80 2005-2006 41.89 22.30 -- 64.79 2006-2007 12.18 24.52 -- 36.70 2007-2008 17.13 14.07 -- 31.20 2008-2009 9.11 23.35 -- 32.46 2009-2010 5.00 34.96 -- 39.96 2010-2011 12.66 40.16 12.88 65.70
Dredging Demand :Most of the rivers in the country carry and deposit huge amount of silt. Therefore, requirement of dredging to maintain and improve the navigability of river-routes varied accordingly. However, reports received every year from vessel owners and operators, inland port officials, masters and pilots, etc. beside hydrographic surveys provided information to BIWTA to make an assessment of annual dredging requirement. In last few years, it is observed from the dredging demand received from the Govt. and private organizations and associations that approximately 100 lakh cubic meter dredging per year is required to maintain the navigability of inland waterways. Besides, dead and dying river-routes require huge volume of capital dredging to develop the navigability.
Present Capacity :BIWTA has limited resources to overcome the navigation problem occurred in inland waterways during dry season every year. At present, BIWTA has only 7 nos. 18 inch cutter suction dredger in the dredger fleet information of which is furnished in the table below :
Sl no. Name Type Year of Procurement Name of Shipyard 1 Delta-I (18´´ SD) 1972 IHC Beaver, Holland 2 Delta-II (18´´ SD) 1972 IHC Beaver, Holland 3 D-135 (18´´ SD) 1975 Machine Fabriek, Holland 4 D-136 (18´´ SD) 1975 Machine Fabriek, Holland 5 D-137 (18´´ SD) 1975 Machine Fabriek, Holland 6 D-138 (18´´ SD) 1975 Machine Fabriek, Holland 7 D-139 (18´´ SD) 1975 Machine Fabriek, Holland 8 Kushiara (18´´ CSD) 2011 Karnaphuli-Vosta LMG (JV), Bangladesh-Holland 9 Kopotakkho (18´´ CSD) 2011 Karnaphuli-Vosta LMG (JV), Bangladesh-Holland 10 Karnaphuli (18´´ CSD) 2011 Karnaphuli-Vosta LMG (JV), Bangladesh-Holland The production capacity of old dredgers has been decreased as their economic lifetime is over. Dredging activities is now going on by keeping these dredgers serviceable by necessary repairing. Recently rehabilitation of the oldest 2 nos. dredger has been completed by the Khulna Shipyard operated by the Bangladesh Navy under a development project. At present yearly production capacity of these 10 nos. dredger is approximately 50 lakh cubic meter. Besides, there is a fleet of total 51 nos. vessel including 14 nos. tug, 13 nos. crane boat, 14 nos. houseboat, 3 nos. pipe barge, 3 nos. fuel barge, 1 no. floating workshop and other 3 nos. vessel for assisting dredgers.
Annual Dredging Program :Every year right at the beginning of the lean water period, information relating to dredging requirements in various inland routes is obtained from all relevant sources and stakeholders, like passenger vessel owners’ association, cargo vessel owners association, BIWTC, supervising officials of various inland ports, masters of private vessels, beat pilots reporting to the Conservancy and Pilotage Department of BIWTA etc. A list of problem spots is prepared where estimated quantities to be dredged are also proposed on the basis of the experience of previous years. Dredging Department of BIWTA separately estimates dredging needs related to development projects included in ADP. Then considering both development and maintenance dredging activities for the year vis-à-vis limitation in available funds and logistics, the works are prioritized according to their relative merit; and this serves as an Annual Dredging Program for that particular year. Under yearly maintenance dredging program most of the dredging work is concentrated at Paturia-Daulatdia, Mawa-Char Janajat, Harinaghat-Alubazar and Laharhat-Veduria ferryroute. Besides, dredging is also executed in Paturia-Baghabari, Dhaka-Barisal, Barisal-Chittagong, Bhairab-Chatak, Laharhat-Tungibaria river-route and Barisal, Patuakhali, Baghabari, Narayangonj river-port etc.
Dredging Progress of Current Year :In the current year BIWTA has engaged BWDB Dredgers and Private Dredgers along with own 10 Dredgers to implement the Dredging program. BIWTA has performed dredging work in Paturia-Daulatdia , Mawa-Char Janajat , Laharhat-Veduria & Harinaghat-Alubazar ferryroute and Paturia-Baghabari, Dhaka-Barisal, Mongla-Ghasiakhali & Hosnabad-Torki river-route and Barisal & Patuakhali Port under maintenance dredging program. Under development dredging program dredging work is going on at Demra-Kaetpara-Ichapur Riverroute under the “Introduction of Circular Waterways around Dhaka City” project. Dredging is completed at Kamrangirchar under 'Removal of Polythene & from Buriganga and Turag River' project. Dredging is also undertaken in Narayanganj-Daudkandi and Hularhut-Charchapil-Gopalganj route for carrying heavy equipment and liquid fuel in connection with construction of Peking Power Plant. Besides, dredging is also under implementation in Modhumoti & Arial Khan under the project “Madaripur-Charmuguria-Takerhat-Gopalganj river route dredging”.
Details of dredging activity up to June’11 are furnished in the Table below:
Sl. no. Nature of Dredging Dredged Quantity (Lakh Cum)
By BIWTA Dredger By BWDB/Pvt. Dredger Total 1 Maintenance
20.15 20.01 40.16 2 Development
6.95 5.71 12.66 3 Miscelleneous (Power Plant)
-- 12.88 12.88 Total 27.10 38.60 65.70
Development Program :In order to revive the inland waterways network BIWTA has taken necessary steps to implement projects on short term and medium term basis for procurement of new dredgers and execution of dredging in inland waterways. Development projects under implementation and proposed are listed in the table below::
Sl. no. Name of the project Implementation period Estimated cost (In crore Tk.) Present Status Approved 1 Procurement of 1 (one) Dredger with Accessories. July 2008 to June 2011.
GOB:34.30
PA: _
Total: 34.30
(Financed by BIWTA)The construction of Dredgers is completed. Its test trail and commissioning is going on now. 2 Procurement of 2 dredgers, Crane Boats, Crew House Boat and Tug Boat with other accessories. January 2009 to December 2011. GOB : 170.00
PA : -
Total: 170.00
(Financed by JDCF)The construction of Dredgers is completed. Its test trail and commissioning is going on now. 3 Procurement of 6 nos. dredgers and ancillary crafts & accessories for Ministry of Water Resources & Ministry of Shipping (MPA-1 no., BIWTA-3 nos. & BWDB-2 nos.). August 2010 to June 2012. BWDB : 237.80
BIWTA: 296.86
MPA : 104.26
Total : 638.92
(Financed by Indian Govt.)Project has been approved by the ECNEC on 17-08-10. Preparation of tender documents is under process. 4 Dredging of Madaripur-Charmuguria-Takerhat-Gopalganj River Route. January 2010 to June 2013. GOB : 148.45
PA : -
Total: 148.45Dredging work of the project is started from 19-04-11. 5 Procurement of 10 dredgers, Tugs, Crane Boats, Officers House Boats and Crew House Boats with other accessories. July 2011 to December 2013. GOB : 745.60
PA : -
Total: 745.60Project has been approved by the ECNEC on 05-04-11. Proposed 1 Procurement of 4 dredgers, Crane Boats, Tugs, Crew House Boats, Officers House Boats with other accessories. January 2011 to December 2012.
GOB : 98.57
PA : 293.46
Total: 392.03
(Financed by Kuwait Govt.)Recast DPP has been sent to the Planning commission on 29-12-10 through the Ministry of Shipping for the approval of the ECNEC. 2 Dredging of 12(twelve) nos. Important River- Routes. March 2011 to June 2015. GOB : 508.46
PA : -
Total: 508.46According to the decisions of the PEC meeting held on 26-01-11, recast DPP has been sent to the Planning Commission on 28-03-11. 3 Capital Dredging of 53 River-routes in Inland Waterways (1st Phase : 24 river routes) April 2011 to June 2015. GOB : 2,183.89
PA : -
Total: 2,183.89According to the decisions of the meeting held on 27-01-11 in the Ministry of Shipping, recast DPP has been sent to the Planning Commission on 03-04-11. 4 Dredging of different River-Routes under Protocol. July 2011 to June 2014. GOB : 24.45
PA : 670.70
Total : 695.15DPP will be recast after getting consent from the India Govt. for financing of the project and report of the morphological study by CEGIS.
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