Swan Defence and Heavy Industries Ltd (SDHI), India's largest shipbuilding firm by capacity, is set to collaborate with Netherlands-based Royal IHC to develop sub-sea, offshore construction, and specialised vessels.

This partnership combines SDHI's extensive refurbished shipyard at Pipavav, Gujarat, with IHC's technological and project execution expertise, and was showcased at the NOR-Shipping Exhibition in Oslo. Royal IHC, known for its efficient 'Beagle' series dredgers, is also assisting Cochin Shipyard in building a ₹800+ crore 12,000 cu.m. Beagle 12 trailing suction hopper dredger for DCI—the first of its kind globally. The collaboration strengthens India’s ‘Make in India’ initiative and global maritime ambitions. SDHI has also signed a non-exclusive MoU with GRSE to jointly construct commercial vessels and offshore structures. Although SDHI has yet to secure new orders since resuming operations under new management post-bankruptcy, the partnership with IHC signals a strategic move towards revival and global competitiveness.