Swan Defence And Heavy Industries More Than Doubles
Swan Defence and Heavy Industries Limited (SDHI), a prominent shipbuilding and heavy fabrication company in India, has experienced significant growth in its workforce over the past 18 months. With a surge in orders, SDHI is on track to hire over 550 new employees in various roles by March 2027. The company is focusing on bolstering its teams in newbuild, repair, and refit operations, including areas such as project management, design, supply chain management, heavy fabrication, and civil works. Additionally, SDHI is increasing recruitment for specialized skilled trades like precision welding, fitting, and pipework.
Creating Jobs Beyond Its Own Workforce
Apart from expanding its internal workforce, SDHI’s ongoing projects are expected to generate around 5,000 additional jobs within the next two to three years through collaborations with vendor and supply chain partners. This move will create more employment opportunities within the maritime industry’s ecosystem.
SWAVALAMBAN Training Initiative Boosts Skilled Workforce
Last year, SDHI introduced the SWAVALAMBAN training program, aimed at developing a skilled and self-reliant maritime workforce in India. This structured initiative, supported by the government and academia, covers sourcing, pre-onboarding, technical induction, mentorship, and shop floor deployment to streamline the talent development process. As a testament to its success, over 100 graduate, postgraduate, diploma engineers, and industrial technicians have completed training under SWAVALAMBAN. The program has significantly reduced the transition time for trainees from classroom learning to practical shop floor experience.
SWAVALAMBAN showcases effective collaboration between shipyards, government entities, and educational institutions to translate policy goals into tangible outcomes. This initiative aligns with the International Maritime Organization’s theme of “From Policy to Practice: Powering Maritime Excellence,” emphasizing the importance of industry partnerships in achieving maritime workforce development goals.
The development of India’s first shipbuilding-specific curriculum in coordination with the Indian Maritime University (IMU) underscores SDHI’s commitment to enhancing maritime education and training. By leading specialized maritime courses across 11 partner Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs), SDHI aims to nurture a skilled workforce ready to support the country’s expanding shipbuilding sector and blue economy initiatives. This initiative also aligns with the Government of India’s ambitious target of creating 28 million maritime jobs by 2030 under the Maritime India Vision.
In conclusion, SDHI’s workforce expansion and training initiatives reflect the company’s dedication to fostering a skilled and industry-ready maritime workforce in India, contributing to the country’s maritime growth and economic development.
