Swan Defence and Heavy Industries Limited announced on 23 January 2026 that it has secured a USD 227 million contract to construct six IMO Type II chemical tankers at its shipyard in Pipavav, Gujarat. The order marks the company’s first newbuild contract following the revival of the shipyard and represents one of the largest single commercial shipbuilding deals awarded to an Indian yard.
The contract covers six vessels of 18,000 deadweight tonnes each and includes an option for a further six tankers. The first vessel is scheduled for delivery within 33 months, with subsequent deliveries planned at regular intervals.
Each vessel will have an overall length of about 150 metres and a beam of approximately 23 metres. The tankers will be designed by Marinform AS and StoGda Ship Design and Engineering and will be classed by DNV. They will be built to Ice Class 1A standards and equipped with dual-fuel LNG-ready hybrid propulsion systems, enabling multiple operating modes supported by automated systems.
The agreement follows a letter of intent signed between the two companies in November 2025. Construction will take place at the Pipavav facility.
This is Rederiet Stenersen’s first newbuilding order with an Indian shipyard. John Stenersen, Director – Ship Management at Rederiet Stenersen AS, said the decision followed a technical and commercial evaluation and reflected confidence in SDHI’s readiness to deliver specialised vessels that meet the shipowner’s requirements. “This is our first newbuilding contract placed with an Indian shipyard, following a comprehensive technical and commercial evaluation,” said John Stenersen.
“This marks the first newbuild order at the shipyard following its revitalisation under the new management,” Vivek Merchant, Director of Swan Defence and Heavy Industries Limited, said. He added that the order reflects confidence in the company’s infrastructure and engineering capabilities to deliver complex commercial vessels.
Swan Defence and Heavy Industries Limited, formerly Reliance Naval and Engineering Limited, is an Indian shipbuilding and heavy fabrication company operating a large dry dock and fabrication facilities at Pipavav on the west coast of India.
