Mumbai: Swan Defence and Heavy Industries Limited (SDHI) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB) for a strategic investment of ₹4,250 crore. The partnership is set to modernize shipyard infrastructure, strengthen domestic supply chains, and build a sustainable talent pipeline for India’s maritime industry.

The ₹4,250 crore investment will be deployed across three key projects at the shipyard in Pipavav Port, Gujarat, which is home to India’s largest dry dock, with capacity to build vessels up to 400,000 DWT, the company said.

The partnership will infuse ₹3,500 crore for capacity expansion at the shipyard, including slipways, jetties, additional cranes, block fabrication, and dredging. This will enhance the shipyard’s capacity to meet global as well as Indian shipbuilding demand.

A ₹200 crore world-class Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Maritime will come up at the shipyard to deliver a certified, industry-ready workforce of over 1,000 youth annually. The CoE will be equipped with state-of-the-art smart classrooms, specialized labs, advanced simulators, and design software systems to enable innovation in ship design, shipbuilding, and retrofits.

SDHI will also develop a 200-acre Maritime Cluster within the shipyard for an investment of ₹550 crore. The cluster will serve as a maritime hub for ancillary industries, suppliers, and support services to foster innovation, improve efficiency, boost the local economy, and strengthen global trade.

Commenting on this partnership, Rear Admiral Vipin Kumar Saxena (Retd.), CEO, Swan Defence and Heavy Industries, said: “We are honoured to partner with the Gujarat Maritime Board on this landmark collaboration. By investing in infrastructure, capacity, and skill development, we will add world-class capabilities that accelerate India’s shipbuilding ecosystem. SDHI is laying the foundation for a new era of growth and cementing our nation’s place on the global maritime map for decades to come.” DeshGujarat