SDHI Wins India’s First Chemical Tanker Order; One of the Largest Commercial Shipbuilding Deals for the Nation

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SDHI Wins India’s First Chemical Tanker Order; One of the Largest Commercial Shipbuilding Deals for the Nation

shipbuilding

India Enters the Chemical Tanker Arena with a Landmark Newbuild Order

Six advanced chemical tankers ordered at Pipavav signal a turning point for India’s commercial shipbuilding ambitions.

India’s largest shipyard is back in business—and this time, it’s global. Swan Defence and Heavy Industries (SDHI) has secured a major international order for six IMO Type II chemical tankers, placing India firmly on the map for complex commercial shipbuilding.

A breakthrough contract for Indian shipbuilding

SDHI has signed a USD 227 million contract with Norwegian shipowner Rederiet Stenersen AS to construct six 18,000 DWT chemical tankers at its Pipavav yard in Gujarat. The deal also includes an option for six additional vessels, potentially doubling the programme.

This is not just another order. It is the first-ever chemical tanker newbuild placed with an Indian shipyard—and one of the largest single commercial shipbuilding contracts the country has seen.

The first vessel is expected to be delivered within 33 months, with follow-on deliveries scheduled at regular intervals.

High-spec ships, built for future operations

The vessels are far from basic tonnage. Each tanker will measure roughly 150 metres in length with a 23-metre beam, designed specifically for demanding chemical trades.

Key technical highlights include:

IMO Type II cargo capability, suited for a wide range of chemical products
Ice Class 1A, enabling operations in cold and ice-prone regions
Dual-fuel LNG-ready hybrid propulsion, allowing multiple operating modes
High automation levels, supporting efficiency, safety, and crew workload reduction

Design work is being carried out by Marinform AS and StoGda Ship Design & Engineering, with DNV providing classification—signaling strong alignment with European technical and regulatory expectations.

A vote of confidence from a European owner

For Rederiet Stenersen, this marks its first-ever newbuild order placed in India, following what the company described as an extensive technical and commercial evaluation.

The decision reflects confidence not just in pricing, but in SDHI’s engineering capability, infrastructure readiness, and ability to meet global quality standards—a key hurdle Indian yards have historically struggled to clear in the commercial export market.

A revived yard finds its first global win

This contract is also the first newbuild order since Pipavav shipyard’s revival under new ownership by Swan Corp Limited. It serves as a proof point that India’s shipbuilding revival—supported by government initiatives like the Shipbuilding Financial Assistance (SFA) scheme—is beginning to translate into real, bankable international orders.

Why this matters

For shipowners: India is emerging as a credible alternative for complex, mid-size commercial vessels—not just bulk or defence tonnage.
For operators and managers: LNG-ready, highly automated designs align with tightening fuel, emissions, and crewing pressures.
For seafarers: Modern tonnage means safer ships, better automation support, and future-proof skills.
For the industry: This deal signals a shift from policy ambition to execution—India is no longer just building ships for itself.

If the optional vessels are exercised, this programme could become a blueprint for how India competes in the global commercial shipbuilding market—one tanker at a time.

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