Swan Defence and Heavy Industries (SDHI) has more than doubled its workforce over the past 18 months and plans to hire more than 550 employees by March 2027, as it expands its shipbuilding and heavy fabrication operations.
The planned hiring will span both white- and blue-collar roles across newbuild, repair and refit operations, including project management, design, supply chain, heavy fabrication and civil works. The company is also hiring for specialised trades such as precision welding, fitting and pipework.
The expansion is being supported by SWAVALAMBAN, a classroom-to-shopfloor training programme launched last year to build a skilled workforce for the maritime sector. More than 100 graduate, postgraduate and diploma engineers and industrial technicians have completed training under the programme.
The structured training model combines sourcing, pre-onboarding, technical induction, mentorship and shopfloor deployment. SDHI said the programme has reduced the time taken to move trainees from classroom learning to shopfloor deployment by at least 30 per cent.
SWAVALAMBAN was developed in consultation with the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Gujarat’s Directorate of Employment & Training, Gujarat Maritime Board, Indian Maritime University and 11 ITIs.
The programme also includes a shipbuilding-specific curriculum developed with the Indian Maritime University, combining classroom instruction with practical exposure. SDHI currently conducts specialised maritime courses across the 11 participating ITIs.
Speaking on the programme, Rear Admiral Vipin Kumar Saxena (retd), CEO, Swan Defence and Heavy Industries, said, “The success of SWAVALAMBAN proves that structured, industry-aligned training can dramatically accelerate technical readiness without compromising safety or quality. Through strong ecosystem partnerships, we are actively cultivating skilled professionals who will form the backbone of our growing shipbuilding and heavy engineering operations.”
Beyond its direct workforce, SDHI estimates that the expansion of its projects could generate at least 5,000 jobs over the next two to three years through vendors and supply-chain partners.
The hiring and skilling push comes as India seeks to expand its shipbuilding capacity and maritime workforce, increasing demand for trained professionals and specialised technical talent across the sector.
