SDHI and GMB ink landmark Rs 4,250 crore MoU for a mega boost to India’s shipbuilding sector

Swan Defence and Heavy Industries Limited (SDHI), India’s largest shipbuilding and heavy fabrication company, has signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB) for a strategic investment of Rs 4250 crore. The partnership is set to modernise shipyard infrastructure, strengthen domestic supply chains and build a sustainable talent pipeline for India’s maritime industry.

This significant investment is a testament of SDHI’s commitment toward India’s maritime ambition, it emphasised in a communique. The Rs 4,250 crore investment will be deployed across three key projects at the shipyard in Pipavav Port, Gujarat, that is home to India’s largest dry dock, with capacity to build vessels up to 400,000 DWT.

The partnership will infuse Rs 3,500 crore for capacity expansion at the shipyard, including slipway, jetties, additional cranes, block fabrication and dredging. This will enhance the shipyard’s capacity to meet global as well as Indian shipbuilding demand. 

A Rs 200 crore world class Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Maritime will come up at the shipyard to deliver a certified, industry-ready workforce of over 1,000 youth annually. The CoE will be equipped with state-of-the-art smart classrooms, specialised labs, advanced simulators and design software systems to enable innovation in ship design, shipbuilding and retrofits. 

SDHI will also develop a 200-acre Maritime Cluster within the shipyard at an investment of Rs 550 crore. The cluster will serve as a maritime hub for ancillary industries, suppliers and support services to foster innovation, improve efficiency, boost local economy and strengthen global trade. 

Commenting on the partnership, Rear Admiral Vipin Kumar Saxena (retd.), CEO, Swan Defence and Heavy Industries, said: “We are honoured to partner with the Gujarat Maritime Board on this landmark collaboration. By investing in infrastructure, capacity and skill development, we will add world class capabilities that accelerate India’s shipbuilding ecosystem. 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.”

This strategic collaboration between SDHI and GMB aligns with the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047, ushering in a new era of growth, innovation and global leadership for the Indian shipbuilding ecosystem, the communique highlighted.

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