Scaled execution of ongoing projects is expected to generate at least 5,000 additional jobs over the next two to three years. Most of these will come through vendor and supply‑chain partners.
Swan Defence and Heavy Industries Ltd (SDHI), India’s leading shipbuilding and heavy fabrication firm, has more than doubled its workforce over the past 18 months as the maritime sector expands under enabling policy initiatives.
Backed by a growing order book, SDHI is targeting over 550 additional hires across white‑collar and blue‑collar roles before the end of FY2026‑27. The shipyard is strengthening teams in newbuild, repair and refit operations, including project management, design, supply chain management, heavy fabrication and civil works. It is also ramping up recruitment for specialised trades such as precision welding, fitting and pipework.
Beyond its own workforce, scaled execution of ongoing projects is expected to generate at least 5,000 additional jobs over the next two to three years through vendor and supply‑chain partners.
As India expands shipbuilding capacity and its blue economy footprint, developing an industry‑ready workforce remains a critical national priority, aligning with the government’s target of creating 28 million maritime jobs under Maritime India Vision 2030.
In 2025, SDHI launched SWAVALAMBAN (Self-Dependence), a structured training initiative backed by government and academia to build a skilled, self‑reliant maritime workforce. The programme integrates sourcing, pre‑onboarding, technical induction, mentorship and shop‑floor deployment into a unified talent journey.
The initiative was developed by SDHI in consultation with the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), the Directorate of Employment & Training (DET) under the Government of Gujarat, the Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB), the Indian Maritime University (IMU) and 11 partner Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs).
Workforce Readiness
Ahead of World Maritime Day on September 24, SDHI announced that over 100 graduates, postgraduates, diploma engineers and industrial technicians have completed training under the SWAVALAMBAN framework. The initiative has reduced transition time from classroom to shop floor by at least 30 per cent, demonstrating how shipyards, government bodies and educational institutions can convert policy ambition into operational execution.
Rear Admiral Vipin Kumar Saxena (Retd), CEO of SDHI, said, “The success of SWAVALAMBAN proves that structured, industry‑aligned training can dramatically accelerate technical readiness without compromising safety or quality. Through strong ecosystem partnerships, we are actively cultivating skilled professionals who will form the backbone of our growing shipbuilding and heavy engineering operations.”
The SWAVALAMBAN initiative also introduced India’s first structured, shipbuilding‑specific curriculum, co‑developed with IMU, combining rigorous academic instruction with hands‑on shop‑floor experience. SDHI currently leads specialised maritime courses across the 11 participating ITIs.