SDHI takes on key offshore vessel project at Pipavav

PIPAVAV : Swan Defence and Heavy Industries Limited will complete five offshore support vessels for San Maritime India Pvt. Ltd. at its Pipavav shipyard. The vessels have entered dry dock for completion under Indian Register of Shipping classification to serve offshore industry requirements.

The hulls were originally part of the assets acquired during SDHI’s takeover of Reliance Naval and Engineering Limited through the National Company Law Tribunal process. They were subsequently acquired by San Maritime for final completion and delivery.

Reviving capacity at Pipavav shipyard
Construction of the vessels had commenced under the previous management. The current project signals operational revival under SDHI’s new leadership, with the yard moving towards full scale execution capability.

The Pipavav facility, located on India’s west coast, houses the country’s largest dry dock measuring 662 metres by 65 metres, a wet basin of 340 metres by 60 metres, and a dedicated 1.2 kilometre waterfront for berthing and launching. The yard also offers a fabrication capacity of 164,000 tonnes per annum, positioning it to handle complex offshore and heavy engineering projects.

Completion of the five offshore support vessels is expected to strengthen Indian flagged tonnage and support domestic offshore oil and gas logistics. The project is also likely to generate activity for local vendors, marine equipment suppliers and service providers within the shipbuilding ecosystem.

Boost to indigenous shipbuilding
The development aligns with the Government of India’s focus on self reliant shipbuilding and increased domestic maritime capability. By completing partially built hulls and bringing them into commercial operation, SDHI is contributing to asset utilisation and capacity restoration within India’s shipbuilding sector.

Offshore support vessels play a critical role in platform supply, subsea operations and offshore maintenance. With offshore exploration activity showing renewed momentum, domestic vessel availability is gaining importance for operators seeking reliable and compliant tonnage.

For SDHI, the project marks a step towards rebuilding order books, restoring yard credibility and reinforcing its position in India’s maritime manufacturing landscape.