The TRAnsverse 3200 tugs will run on biofuels, meet global emission standards, and feature advanced firefighting systems.
Swan Defence and Heavy Industries (SDHI), India’s largest shipbuilding and heavy engineering company, has won a contract from Denmark‑based towage operator Svitzer to construct four advanced TRAnsverse 3200 tugs. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in early 2028.
This marks the Pipavav‑based shipyard’s fourth export contract, awarded after an extensive competitive evaluation of leading global shipyards. The high‑specification vessels will be built to Bureau Veritas class standards, which are internationally recognised technical rules defining the design, build, and maintenance of ships to ensure safety, reliability, and compliance with global regulations.
Rear Admiral (Retd) Vipin Kumar Saxena, CEO of SDHI, said, “It is indeed a notable achievement for SDHI to construct one of the world’s most sophisticated towage vessels. Svitzer’s rigorous evaluation process reaffirms the strength of our engineering capabilities in the niche, high‑specification vessel segment. Winning our fourth consecutive export contract also reflects the growing confidence of global category leaders in SDHI’s ability to deliver to the highest international standards.”
Co‑developed by naval architects Robert Allan Ltd. and Svitzer, the patented TRAnsverse 3200 design is engineered for complex harbour towage and escort operations. Featuring a unique hydrodynamic hull and omnidirectional propulsion, the vessels can safely guide large ships through severe weather and restricted port channels by delivering an 80‑tonne bollard pull.
Advanced Green Features
The TRAnsverse 3200 tugs will be equipped to run on biofuels, meet the latest international emission standards set by the IMO (Tier III), and carry advanced firefighting systems (FiFi1 class). This means the vessels will produce fewer harmful emissions, be environmentally friendlier, and have strong firefighting capability to respond quickly to emergencies in ports and terminals.
Commenting on the partnership with SDHI, Kasper Friis Nilaus, CEO of Svitzer, added, “Svitzer’s TRAnsverse tug design offers significant benefits to customers in terms of releasing operational constraints and improving port productivity, sustainability and safety margins… The contract also reflects our continued investment in the Indian maritime sector, highlighting our ongoing commitment to the Government of India’s Maritime India Vision 2030, Make in India, and Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives.”
Copenhagen‑headquartered Svitzer operates a fleet of over 500 vessels worldwide. This order forms part of its long‑term fleet renewal programme, aimed at deploying next‑generation, high‑efficiency vessels to optimise port and terminal operations globally. The vessels will be built at SDHI’s yard in Pipavav, adjacent to the port where Svitzer also has a harbour towage operation.