Indian shipbuilder Swan Defence and Heavy Industries Limited has secured its largest-ever newbuilding contract, valued at $227 million, from Norway’s Rederiet Stenersen AS. The deal covers the construction of six IMO Type II chemical tankers of 18,000 DWT at Swan Defence's Gujarat shipyard, with an option for six more vessels. The project marks the first major order since Swan Defence's facility upgrade under the management of Swan Corp Limited. The tankers, designed by Marinform AS and StoGda Ship Design & Engineering, will be classed by DNV and built to Ice Class 1A standards with advanced dual-fuel LNG ready hybrid propulsion. The first vessel is due for delivery in 33 months, with subsequent ships to follow at regular intervals. Company leaders hailed the agreement as a historic milestone for Indian shipbuilding and a demonstration of global confidence in the country's maritime capabilities.