SDHI Bags ₹750-Crore Export Deal from Denmark's Svitzer to Build Four Tugs.

Swan Defence and Heavy Industries Ltd. (SDHI) has secured an export contract worth up to ₹750 crore from Denmark-based towage operator Svitzer A/S to build four advanced TRAnsverse 3200 harbour tugs, marking the Indian shipbuilder's fourth consecutive international order.

The vessels will be constructed at SDHI's shipyard in Pipavav, Gujarat, with deliveries scheduled to begin in early 2028, the company said on Thursday. The contract was awarded following a competitive evaluation involving leading global shipyards, with the vessels to be built in accordance with Bureau Veritas class standards.

The patented TRAnsverse 3200 harbour tug was co-developed by Canadian naval architecture firm Robert Allan Ltd. and Svitzer for complex harbour towage and escort operations. The design incorporates a hydrodynamic hull and an omni-directional propulsion system, enabling the vessels to manoeuvre large ships safely through congested ports and challenging weather conditions.

According to the company, the tugs will deliver an 80-tonne bollard pull while offering up to 15% higher fuel efficiency than conventional tug designs. The vessels will also be biofuel-ready, comply with IMO Tier III emission standards, and feature FiFi1 firefighting capability to support lower emissions and enhanced emergency response during port operations.

Commenting on the order, Rear Admiral Vipin Kumar Saxena (Retd.), Chief Executive Officer of SDHI, said the contract underscores the company's growing capabilities in building specialised, high-end vessels.

"It is indeed a notable achievement for SDHI to construct one of the world's most sophisticated towage vessels. Svitzer's rigorous evaluation process reaffirms the strength of our engineering capabilities in the niche, high-specification vessel segment," Saxena said.