Swan Defence and Heavy Industries Limited (SDHI), India’s largest shipbuilding and heavy engineering company, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with South Korea’s Samsung Heavy Industries, a global name in the construction of complex vessels. The agreement sets the stage for both companies to jointly pursue shipbuilding and engineering projects in India and abroad.
The partnership will focus on building a wide range of commercial vessels, including oil tankers, gas carriers, container ships, and other specialized ships. Both companies will also explore cooperation on green technologies, digital shipbuilding methods, and new vessel designs.
This agreement comes as India steps up efforts to become a major player in the global shipbuilding industry. With supportive government policies, modern port infrastructure, and new financial incentives, the sector is seeing renewed momentum.
“Partnering with Samsung Heavy Industries gives us a great opportunity to work with one of the world’s top shipbuilders,” said Rear Admiral Vipin Kumar Saxena (Retd), CEO of SDHI. “We’re aiming to create long-term value through this collaboration, combining technology and experience to meet global standards and future needs.”
The MoU also includes plans to improve efficiency in project execution through better production design and cost-saving measures like local sourcing of materials. This collaboration highlights a broader push to boost India’s capabilities in both commercial shipbuilding and offshore infrastructure. It marks a step forward in SDHI’s mission to contribute to India’s maritime growth and global competitiveness.
SDHI operates the country’s largest dry dock (662 meters long, 65 meters wide) with a capacity of 400,000 DWT, and it can fabricate up to 144,000 tons of steel each year. The company also runs a large offshore yard for constructing heavy platforms and engineering modules of up to 10,000 tons.
Previously known as Reliance Naval and Engineering Limited, SDHI has re-established itself as a key player in heavy fabrication and shipbuilding from its base on India’s west coast. Its facilities are built to handle large-scale projects and support India’s long-term goals in defense, commercial shipping, and industrial engineering.
