Indian port operator Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) has awarded a joint venture of Royal Boskalis Westminster and Jan De Nul with a USD 250 million contract for the deepening and widening of the access channel towards Jawaharlal Nehru Port in Mumbai.

The works are scheduled to commence in the coming weeks and will be completed within two years, Boskalis said.

The areas to be dredged include the 35.5 kilometers long access channel and various turning basins and anchorage areas. In total more than 40 million cubic meters of sand, silt, clay and rock will be removed, according to Boskalis.

Jawaharlal Nehru Port is the largest container handling port in the country, covering around 55% of total container throughput of all Major Ports in India.

Upon completion of the project, the port will be able to accommodate larger container vessels at its four terminals.

Currently, the port can handle containerships with a draft of up to 15.2 meters.