SDHI Signs ₹4,250 Crore MoU with Gujarat Maritime Board to Boost Shipbuilding Sector

Swan Defence and Heavy Industries Limited (SDHI) recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB) to strengthen India’s shipbuilding industry. Under the agreement, SDHI will invest ₹4,250 crore across three major projects at its Pipavav Port shipyard in Gujarat, home to India’s largest dry dock capable of building vessels up to 400,000 DWT.

Of the total investment, ₹3,500 crore will be dedicated to expanding shipyard capacity, including enhancements to slipways, jetties, cranes, block fabrication, and dredging operations. Additionally, ₹200 crore will be allocated to establish a Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Maritime training, designed to train over 1,000 youths annually. The CoE will feature classrooms, specialized labs, simulators, and advanced design software for ship design, construction, and retrofitting.

SDHI will also develop a 200-acre Maritime Cluster at the shipyard with an investment of ₹550 crore. This cluster aims to house ancillary industries, suppliers, and support services, further bolstering the maritime ecosystem.

Rear Admiral Vipin Kumar Saxena (Retd.), CEO of SDHI, emphasized that the partnership will enhance India’s shipbuilding infrastructure and skilled workforce. “This collaboration will support capacity expansion and skill development at the shipyard, contributing to maritime sector growth and positioning India prominently in global shipbuilding networks,” he said.

In a separate development, SDHI also signed an MoU with Sagarmala Finance Corporation Limited (SMFCL) to explore shipbuilding projects, ship repairs, and ancillary maritime infrastructure, backed by the Maritime Development Fund and debt financing. This collaboration includes feasibility studies, sustainable shipbuilding technologies, supply chain localization, and vendor development.

The partnership aims to establish a comprehensive financing framework involving equity, debt, credit enhancements, and engagement with co-financiers such as government agencies, multilateral institutions, and private investors.

Saxena added that these collaborations will foster workforce development, infrastructure expansion, and export growth in India’s maritime sector. “This partnership is expected to strengthen supply chains, generate employment, and elevate India’s standing in the global shipbuilding market,” he said.

These strategic initiatives align with India’s Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 and Maritime India Vision 2030, supporting government objectives under PM Gati Shakti to build a globally competitive shipbuilding industry.