Swan Defence awarded $227m contract to build six chemical tankers for Norwegian shipping firm

Swan Defence will build six chemical tankers for a Norwegian shipping firm

Shipbuilding and heaby engineering firm Swan Defence and Heavy Industries has announced that it has been awarded a $227 million contract to build six IMO Type-II chemical tankers, which will be built at its Pipavav Shipyard in Gujarat. The contract for the vessels, each of 18,000 DWT (dead weight tonnage) has been awarded by Rederiet Stenersen AS, a Norwegian shipowning firm.

Swan Defence said in a release that the contract is one of the largest that has ever been awarded to a commercial shipbuilding firm in India, and is also the largest chemical tanker order to an Indian shipbuilder. The agreement between Swan Defence and Rederiet Stenersen AS also includes an option of six sister vessels.

The first vessel under the agreement is slated to be delivered in 33 months, with each vessel being ready for dual-fuel operations, including liquefied natural gas (LNG). Each vessel has a length of 150 metres, and a beam (maximum width) of 23 metres.

"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," said Vivek Merchant, director, Swan Defence and Heavy Industries.

Formerly Pipavav Shipyard Ltd and Reliance Naval and Engineering Ltd, Swan Defence and Heavy Industries came into being when Swan Energy acquired the firm through the corporate insolvency resolution process in 2022. The firm has collaborated with other shipbuilders around the world, such as the Dutch firm Royal IHC, as well as state-owned Mazagon Dock Ltd, to collaborate for various shipping platforms, such as offshore construction vessels and landing platform docks.