SDHI To Complete Five Offshore Support Vessels
05 Mar 2026 CW Team
Swan Defence and Heavy Industries Limited will complete five Offshore Support Vessels for Kakinada based San Maritime India Pvt. Ltd, with the hulls now docked at the Pipavav shipyard for finishing to IR class. Company statements said the docking has commenced and the vessels will subsequently serve the offshore industry. The project follows SDHI's acquisition of Pipavav Shipyard assets during the restructuring of Reliance Naval and Engineering Limited.\n\nThe completion of these vessels is expected to strengthen Indian flagged tonnage and offshore capability while creating maritime jobs and supporting local vendors and service providers within the shipbuilding ecosystem. The programme aligns with the Government of India’s vision of advancing indigenous self reliant shipbuilding through targeted financial assistance and incentive schemes. Executives noted that the revived shipyard will demonstrate operational readiness and executional capability under new leadership.\n\nThe Pipavav facility on the west coast offers extensive shipbuilding infrastructure, including the country’s largest dry dock measuring 662m by 65m and a wet basin of 340m by 60m for berthing, docking and launching of vessels. The site also provides a 1.2km dedicated waterfront and an annual fabrication capacity of 164,000 tonne, which gives the company an advantage in undertaking large scale projects. The hulls were acquired by SDHI as part of the NCLT approved plan during the resolution of Reliance Naval and Engineering Limited and were later transferred to San Maritime. The completion work will follow IR class requirements and is planned to support timely delivery to the offshore sector.\n\nConstruction of the vessels began under the previous management, and the current programme reflects the shipyard's capacity to revive and complete complex projects. The initiative is expected to support the wider maritime supply chain, including small and medium enterprises that provide specialised components and services. The company said it will adhere to regulatory and quality standards. Stakeholders will benefit from enhanced local employment and supply chain continuity.