Swan Defence and Heavy Industries Limited (SDHI), India’s largest shipbuilding and heavy engineering company, has entered into an exclusive Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Royal IHC, Europe’s leader in offshore oil and gas vessels. The agreement, signed in association with Alar Infrastructure, Royal IHC’s Indian representative, aims to jointly design, construct, and retrofit advanced offshore and specialized vessels.
The collaboration will focus on building Offshore Construction Vessels, Pipe Laying Vessels, and Multi-Purpose Offshore Support Vessels at SDHI’s Pipavav shipyard in Gujarat, which houses India’s largest dry dock and extensive fabrication facilities. This strategic tie-up aligns with the Government of India’s Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives by advancing indigenous shipbuilding, reducing costs, and strengthening India’s competitiveness in the global maritime sector. Combining Royal IHC’s expertise in engineering, equipment, and project execution with SDHI’s large-scale infrastructure and skilled workforce, the partnership is set to deliver reliable, world-class solutions for the energy and maritime industries.
Speaking on the occasion, Vivek Merchant, Director, Swan Defence and Heavy Industries, said, “We are pleased to partner with Royal IHC at a time when demand for advanced offshore vessels is increasing across oil, gas, and renewable energy markets. This collaboration equips us to meet these requirements with cutting-edge solutions at competitive costs.”
Derk te Bokkel, CEO of Royal IHC, added, “This agreement strengthens our presence in Asia through a partnership with India’s largest shipyard. By combining SDHI’s infrastructure with our design and engineering expertise, we can deliver high-quality offshore solutions for the evolving global energy market.”
SDHI’s Pipavav shipyard, strategically located on India’s west coast, features a dry dock measuring 662m x 65m and a fabrication capacity of 144,000 tons per year—providing unmatched scale for large and complex shipbuilding projects. Royal IHC, with its strong Dutch maritime heritage, remains a global leader in dredging, offshore, mining, and defence solutions, driving efficiency and sustainability through advanced technology and innovation.
Formerly Reliance Naval and Engineering Limited, SDHI is a leading shipbuilding and heavy fabrication company headquartered in India. With the nation’s largest dry dock and extensive infrastructure at Pipavav, the company is committed to innovation, safety, sustainability, and excellence in delivering world-class maritime solutions.
