Swan Defence and Heavy Industries Limited (SDHI), India’s largest shipbuilding and heavy engineering company, has secured a major export contract from Denmark-based towage operator Svitzer A/S to build four advanced TRAnsverse 3200 harbour tugs, further strengthening India’s position in the global high-specification shipbuilding market.
The vessels will be constructed at SDHI’s shipyard in Pipavav, Gujarat, and deliveries are scheduled to begin in early 2028. The contract was awarded following a competitive evaluation involving leading global shipyards.
The high-performance tugs will be built to Bureau Veritas classification standards and are based on the patented TRAnsverse 3200 design, jointly developed by naval architecture firm Robert Allan Ltd. and Svitzer. Designed for demanding harbour towage and escort operations, the vessels feature a unique hydrodynamic hull form and omni-directional propulsion system, enabling them to safely manoeuvre large ships through congested ports and challenging weather conditions.
Each tug will deliver an 80-tonne bollard pull while offering up to 15% better fuel efficiency compared with conventional tug designs, supporting the maritime industry’s decarbonisation objectives. The vessels will also be biofuel-ready, compliant with IMO Tier III emission standards, and equipped with FiFi1 firefighting capability for enhanced environmental performance and emergency response.
Commenting on the order, Rear Admiral Vipin Kumar Saxena (Retd.), CEO of Swan Defence and Heavy Industries Limited, said the contract marks another significant milestone for the company.
“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. Winning our fourth consecutive export contract also reflects the growing confidence of global category leaders in SDHI’s ability to deliver to the highest international standards. As we continue to expand our capabilities, we remain focused on strengthening India’s position as a globally competitive shipbuilding destination.”
Svitzer CEO Kasper Friis Nilaus said the company’s innovative TRAnsverse tug design offers substantial operational benefits.
“Svitzer’s TRAnsverse tug design offers significant benefits to customers in terms of releasing operational constraints and improving port productivity, sustainability and safety margins. We are pleased to partner with SDHI to deliver four of these next-generation vessels to the benefit of our customers and maritime supply chains globally.”
He added that the contract also demonstrates Svitzer’s continued investment in India’s maritime sector and aligns with the Government of India’s Maritime India Vision 2030, Make in India, and Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives.
Headquartered in Copenhagen, Svitzer operates a global fleet of more than 500 vessels. The order forms part of the company’s long-term fleet renewal programme, which aims to introduce next-generation, fuel-efficient vessels across its worldwide operations. The new tugs will be built at SDHI’s Pipavav facility, located adjacent to the port where Svitzer already operates harbour towage services.
