Swan Defence and Heavy Industries Limited (SDHI), the country’s largest facility for shipbuilding and industrial-scale fabrication, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Wheel & Time Shipping Transport Logistics, a key player in the transportation of large and heavy cargo. Together, they are rolling out India’s first fully integrated F.A.S.T. (Fabrication, Assembly, Storage, and Transportation) logistics platform at SDHI’s shipyard in Pipavav, Gujarat.
This new framework is built to support the entire lifecycle of large-scale engineering and construction efforts — from steel cutting to final delivery — all from a single site. By combining SDHI’s waterfront fabrication infrastructure with Wheel & Time’s expertise in handling oversized loads, the collaboration aims to reduce project delays, simplify logistics, and increase execution certainty for clients across multiple industries.
Key sectors expected to benefit include port machinery, marine works, petrochemical installations, offshore infrastructure, and oil & gas construction.
The integrated model is designed to cut down on fragmented supply chains by minimizing handovers and consolidating fabrication, assembly, storage, and delivery within one controlled environment. It gives companies a streamlined solution for executing high-value, time-critical projects with global reach.
Vivek Merchant, Director at SDHI, said the collaboration marks a significant milestone:
“Our focus remains on shipbuilding, ship repairs, and complex fabrication projects. This partnership strengthens our position in heavy engineering. It allows clients to hand over responsibility for the most complex logistical phases to us, so they can focus on their core strengths — engineering, design, and innovation.”
Gautamraj Sharma, Managing Director of Wheel & Time, added:
“This partnership represents a powerful convergence of infrastructure and logistics know-how. Together, we can handle complex, oversized loads from origin to destination with greater precision and reliability.”
Located on over 600 acres along Gujarat’s coastline, SDHI’s facility includes India’s largest dry dock and a robust monthly output of 10,000 tonnes. The yard features CNC and robotic steel cutting systems, high-capacity hydraulic presses capable of handling up to 1,600 tonnes, and custom tools for large-volume lifts.
Everything from materials sourcing to finished shipment is managed on-site, significantly reducing dependency on inland transport or multiple third-party vendors. Wheel & Time will provide and manage a comprehensive fleet that includes Self-Propelled Modular Transporters (SPMTs), hydraulic trailers, and ocean-going vessels capable of handling massive cargo loads across global routes.
Previously known as RNAVAL, SDHI is a leading industrial and maritime engineering company based on India’s west coast. With an annual fabrication capacity of 1,44,000 tonnes and cutting-edge infrastructure, the company delivers high-performance solutions to India’s shipbuilding and heavy fabrication sectors. SDHI is committed to advancing India’s role in global industrial supply chains and maritime development.
