A second dredging vessel operated by Jan De Nul Group, Al-Idrisi, has arrived in the waters of the Anaklia port, where seabed deepening works are underway. It will operate alongside Tristao Da Cunha, which began work about a month ago.
The two vessels will carry out dredging in the port’s entrance channel and turning basin. According to Anaklia Sea Port Director Zurab Sichinava, the works are expected to deepen the seabed to 17.5 meters.
The dredging contract was signed in August 2024. Its initial value was $200 million but was reduced to $150 million this spring. The government has also revised the port’s maritime infrastructure parameters, cutting the planned dredging volume by around 30%, from 7.5 million cubic meters to 5.25 million cubic meters.
The Anaklia deep-sea port is now planned under a state-led model, with the government seeking around $200 million in additional funding from international donors. After the berths are constructed, the state plans to lease the port infrastructure to private logistics operators, with the Economy Ministry expecting them to invest an additional $350–400 million in terminal facilities.
