SHM Group has launched Ocean Crewzer 8 (Y-410), a 29-metre high-speed aluminium passenger craft built entirely at the company’s Mumbai shipyard, reinforcing its focus on indigenous shipbuilding and maritime manufacturing capabilities in India. Designed and constructed in-house, the vessel has been developed to support evolving passenger transport and waterway operations across the country. The launch forms part of SHM Group’s ongoing shipbuilding programme aimed at meeting growing maritime infrastructure and coastal transportation requirements.
Ocean Crewzer 8 has been built using aluminium, a material widely preferred for high-speed marine applications because of its lighter weight and improved fuel efficiency compared to conventional steel vessels. The company stated that the complete build cycle — from design to fabrication and assembly — was executed within its own facilities.
Saifuddin Hajee, Chairman and Managing Director of SHM Group, said the vessel reflects the company’s long-standing commitment to domestic shipbuilding and engineering execution. He stated that the project was completed within planned timelines and represented the disciplined efforts of the company’s technical and operational teams. He added that SHM Group continues to support India’s self-reliance objectives in the maritime sector through locally built vessels and indigenous engineering capabilities.
The construction process involved detailed structural engineering, block fabrication, machinery installation, and multiple quality assurance checks. Three separate vessel blocks were erected and aligned before final integration at the yard. The company also carried out dry surveys, hydrotests, and inspections of propulsion systems, machinery foundations, outfitting components, and bow thruster installations prior to launch.
Aliasgar Hajee, CEO – Shipbuilding & Ship Management at SHM Group, said the vessel demonstrates the ability of Indian shipyards to execute technically demanding marine projects through planned manufacturing and coordinated execution. According to the company, extensive safety inspections were conducted throughout the construction and launch phases. The final launch operation was carried out using two 300-tonne cranes under a controlled and closely monitored procedure.
Mohammed Hajee, CEO – Maritime Safety and Security at SHM Group, said safety protocols were integrated into every stage of the vessel’s construction and commissioning process. He added that all onboard systems underwent inspections and verification before the craft was cleared for launch and operational deployment. SHM Group said the launch of Ocean Crewzer 8 supports its broader strategy of expanding domestic production of high-speed aluminium vessels as demand for coastal and inland water transport continues to rise in India.
Founded in 2001, SHM Group operates across shipbuilding, ship management, maritime safety, and marine engineering services. The company has built more than 340 vessels and maintains operations across multiple domestic and international maritime hubs, including Mumbai, Kochi, Chennai, Singapore, UAE, Malaysia, Greece, and Sri Lanka. The group also supports ports, government agencies, and commercial maritime operators through its manufacturing, servicing, and warehousing infrastructure spread across more than 2 lakh square feet.
