Swan Defence and Heavy Industries (SDHI) has marked a significant milestone in India’s commercial shipbuilding sector by securing its first newbuild contract for six IMO Type II chemical tankers.

Each tanker, with a deadweight tonnage (DWT) of 18,000, will be constructed at SDHI’s revitalised shipyard at Pipavav, Gujarat. The contract, valued at USD 227 million, comes from European shipowner Rederiet Stenersen AS and represents one of the largest single commercial shipbuilding orders in India, as well as the first and largest chemical tanker order awarded to an Indian shipyard. The first vessel is scheduled for delivery within 33 months, with subsequent deliveries planned at regular intervals. Each tanker will measure about 150 mtrs. in length and approx. 23 mtrs. in beam.

The vessel will be designed by Marinform AS and StoGda Ship Design & Engineering, and will feature dual-fuel LNG-ready hybrid propulsion and Ice Class 1A standards, offering multiple operational modes. This order follows the revitalisation of India’s largest shipyard under Swan Corp., SDHI’s parent company.