Anchored in Maritime India Vision 2030 and the Amrit Kaal Vision 2047, the agreements signal a strategic leap in infrastructure, skills, and global maritime competitiveness.
Swan Defence and Heavy Industries (SDHI), India’s largest shipbuilding and heavy fabrication firm, has signed two strategic memoranda of understanding (MoUs) aimed at accelerating the country’s maritime manufacturing ecosystem. Inked with Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB) and Sagarmala Finance Corporation Ltd (SMFCL), the agreements signal a major push towards infrastructure modernisation, skill development, and global competitiveness in line with Maritime India Vision 2030 and the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047.
The ₹42.5 billion MoU with GMB will modernise shipyard infrastructure at Pipavav Port, home to India’s largest dry dock with a capacity of 400,000 deadweight tonnage (DWT). Of this, ₹35 billion will be invested in expanding shipyard capacity through the development of slipways, jetties, cranes, block fabrication zones, and dredging operations. A further ₹2 billion will be allocated to establish a world-class maritime Centre of Excellence (CoE), designed to train over 1,000 youth annually in ship design, retrofits, and advanced fabrication. An additional ₹5.5 billion will be used to develop a 200-acre maritime cluster within the shipyard, housing ancillary industries, suppliers, and support services.
“By investing in infrastructure, capacity, and skill development, we will add world-class capabilities that accelerate India’s shipbuilding ecosystem,” said Rear Admiral Vipin Kumar Saxena (Retd), CEO, SDHI. “SDHI is laying the foundation for a new era of growth and cementing our nation’s place on the global maritime map for decades to come.”
The CoE will feature smart classrooms, specialised labs, simulators, and design software systems to foster innovation. The maritime cluster will serve as a hub for localisation, vendor development, and global trade integration.
Strategic Shipbuilding Alliance
In a parallel development, SDHI has signed an MoU with SMFCL to jointly explore newbuilds, ship repairs, and ancillary maritime infrastructure for support under the Maritime-focused Equity Fund (MfEF). The partnership spans four strategic pillars—technical and commercial evaluation, financing, project execution, and ecosystem development—and aims to catalyse India’s emergence as a global shipbuilding hub by integrating advanced technologies and sustainable practices.
Feasibility studies will assess yard capacity, vessel types, and technology integration, with a focus on green fuels, energy-efficient designs, and digital shipyards. The partners will also develop a financing framework covering capital structure, equity, debt, and credit enhancements, while engaging multilateral institutions, government agencies, and private investors.
The collaboration will support vessel exports and integration into global shipbuilding value chains, alongside industry-academia partnerships for skill development and workforce capacity building. ESG reporting on emissions, safety, and labour standards will be embedded to align India’s shipbuilding practices with international benchmarks.