Swan Defence and Heavy Industries Limited (SDHI) has landed a landmark $227 million contract from Norway’s Rederiet Stenersen to construct six advanced 18,000-tonne chemical tankers at Pipavav shipyard. The deal marks the largest chemical tanker order ever awarded to an Indian shipyard and is SDHI’s first major win since Pipavav’s revival from bankruptcy. The vessels will feature complex IMO Type II specifications, Ice Class 1A certification, LNG-ready hybrid propulsion, and high automation levels. This rare vote of confidence from a European shipowner follows recent changes to India’s shipbuilding incentive framework, underscoring the alignment of policy and industrial capability. Industry experts say the agreement signals a strong comeback for India’s private shipyards on the global stage.