Swan Defence and Heavy Industries (SDHI) has more than doubled its workforce over the past 18 months and plans to add over 550 employees across white-collar and blue-collar roles by March 2027.

The company is strengthening teams across newbuild, repair and refit operations, with hiring focused on project management, design, supply chain management, heavy fabrication, civil works and specialised trades including precision welding, fitting and pipework.

The expansion is supported by SDHI’s growing order book, while the execution of ongoing projects is expected to create around 5,000 additional employment opportunities over the next two to three years through vendors and supply chain partners.

SDHI’s SWAVALAMBAN initiative, launched to develop a skilled domestic maritime workforce, has trained more than 100 graduate, postgraduate and diploma engineers, along with industrial technicians. The programme integrates sourcing, pre-onboarding, technical induction, mentorship and shop floor deployment into a structured talent development framework.

Developed in consultation with the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), Directorate of Employment & Training (DET), Government of Gujarat, Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB), Indian Maritime University (IMU) and 11 Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs), the programme has reduced trainee transition time from classroom to shop floor by at least 30 per cent.

SWAVALAMBAN also introduced a shipbuilding-specific curriculum developed with IMU, combining academic learning with practical shop floor experience. SDHI currently conducts specialised maritime courses across the participating ITIs.

Rear Admiral Vipin Kumar Saxena (retd), CEO, Swan Defence and Heavy Industries Limited, said, “The success of SWAVALAMBAN proves that structured, industry-aligned training can dramatically accelerate technical readiness without compromising safety or quality.”

The initiative aligns with India’s focus on expanding shipbuilding capacity and developing a skilled workforce to support the growth of the maritime sector and blue economy.