SDHI wins India’s first chemical tanker newbuild order

Swan Defence and Heavy Industries (SDHI) has secured India’s first chemical tanker newbuild order, signing a contract worth USD 227 million to build six 18,000 DWT IMO Type II chemical tankers at its shipyard in Pipavav, Gujarat.

The order has been placed by European shipowner Rederiet Stenersen AS and is one of the largest single commercial shipbuilding contracts awarded to an Indian shipyard. It is also the first newbuild order at India’s largest shipyard since its revitalisation under new management. The agreement includes an option for six additional vessels.

The first vessel is scheduled for delivery within 33 months, with subsequent ships to follow at regular intervals. Each tanker will be about 150 metres long with a beam of around 23 metres.

The vessels will be designed by Marinform AS and StoGda Ship Design & Engineering and classed by DNV. They will be built to Ice Class 1A standards and fitted with dual-fuel LNG-ready hybrid propulsion systems, allowing multiple operational modes supported by high levels of automation.

Vivek Merchant, Director at SDHI, said the contract marked a historic step in the shipyard’s renewed journey and reflected global confidence in its ability to deliver complex commercial vessels. He added that supportive maritime policies, including the Shipbuilding Financial Assistance scheme, have helped Indian private shipyards compete with global peers.

John Stenersen, Director – Ship Management at Rederiet Stenersen AS, said this was the company’s first newbuilding contract with an Indian shipyard, following a detailed technical and commercial evaluation. He said the decision was based on confidence in SDHI’s infrastructure, engineering capabilities and ability to deliver specialised vessels that meet the company’s global standards.

The contract follows a Letter of Intent signed between SDHI and Rederiet Stenersen AS in November 2025.