DCIL is miniratna public sector unit (PSU) engaged in the business of dredging.

It does dredging for Indian seaports exclusively. It is involved in capital dredging, beach nourishment, and land reclamation. It was established in March 1976 and is headquartered in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. It reports to the Ministry of Shipping. Almost all maintenance dredging in Indian seaports is carried out by DCI. It also occasionally dredges at foreign seaports in countries such as Sri Lanka, Taiwan and Dubai. DCIL was in news recently as the government has gone for strategic disinvestment of the body selling its stake to 100% private entities.