India’s Swan Defence books landmark $227M chemical tanker order

Swan Defence’s upgraded Gujarat shipyard. [Photo: SDHI]

Indian shipbuilder Swan Defence and Heavy Industries Limited (formerly Reliance Naval and Engineering Limited) has signed its first newbuild contract since its Gujarat shipyard was upgraded under the new management of parent company Swan Corp Limited..

Valued at $227 million, the contract was placed by Bergen, Norway-headquartered Rederiet Stenersen AS and covers the construction of six IMO Type II chemical tankers, each of 18,000 DWT. It is the largest chemical tanker order thus far awarded to an Indian shipyard. The agreement includes an option for an additional six sister vessels. The first vessel is scheduled for delivery within 33 months, with subsequent deliveries planned at regular intervals.

The tankers will be designed by Bergen-based Marinform AS and Poland’s StoGda Ship Design & Engineering. Classed by DNV, they will be built to Ice Class 1A standards and feature advanced dual-fuel LNG ready hybrid propulsion, enabling multiple operational modes supported by high levels of automation.

“This marks a historic milestone in the shipyard’s new journey toward becoming a state-of-the-art shipbuilding hub,” said Vivek Merchant, director, Swan Defence and Heavy Industries. “The order from Rederiet Stenersen AS underscores global confidence in our ability to deliver future-ready, high-quality vessels. This agreement is not only a significant achievement for SDHI but also a strong endorsement of India’s growing commercial shipbuilding ecosystem. Progressive maritime policies, including the Shipbuilding Financial Assistance scheme, have enabled Indian private shipyards to compete successfully with leading global peers. We sincerely thank Rederiet Stenersen AS for their trust and support in SDHI as we embark on this important partnership.”

“This is our first newbuilding contract placed with an Indian shipyard, following a comprehensive technical and commercial evaluation,” said John Stenersen, diector ship management at Rederiet Stenersen. “Our decision reflects strong confidence in SDHI’s infrastructure, engineering capabilities, and readiness to deliver specialized vessels that meet Stenersen’s global standards, while remaining cost competitive.”