NMDC Group has announced the expansion of its 170+ vessel fleet with an US $168mn self-propelled cutter suction dredger.

With an overall length of 148m and total installed power of 30,440kW, the vessel will further enhance NMDC’s marine dredging capacity, in light of the group’s growing backlog and awarded projects across multiple jurisdictions.

Officials from both NMDC Group and its subsidiary NMDC Dredging & Marine attended the keel laying ceremony held on 28 January 2026, which marked the beginning of construction. It is expected that the vessel will be completed and operational by 1Q 2027.

Eng. Yasser Zaghloul, Group CEO, NMDC Group said, “Celebrating a new vessel build is a symbolic reference to our operational expansion, capability enhancement, in addition to setting a new foundation for growth. This state-of-the-art dredger will join NMDC’s impressive fleet, enhance our operational capabilities and allow us to execute our projects with more efficiency. A core strategic directive at NMDC is to boost the group’s long-term capacity, deploy best-in-class assets, adopt the latest technology, and enhance our capacity to execute major coastal, port, energy, and offshore projects across our key international markets.”

In recent years, NMDC Group has been constantly enhancing its capacity to meet its growing pipeline of projects across multiple geographies. In 2025, NMDC Dredging & Marine grew its international footprint with projects in the Philippines, Oman, and Taiwan with NMDC Energy.