Swan Defence Completes SAJAG Refit Ahead of Schedule

Mumbai, Feb 14 (PTI) Swan Defence and Heavy Industries Ltd on Friday said it has completed the refit of the Indian Coast Guard offshore patrol vessel SAJAG ahead of schedule.

Originally scheduled from November 15, 2024 to March 15 this year, the refit was completed ahead of schedule following a successful sea trial, the commercial and defence shipbuilding, heavy fabrication and ship repairs firm said.

"As the industry experiences a pivotal shift with increased government investments in shipbuilding and defence infrastructure, the company is poised to play a crucial role in this evolution," said Vivek Merchant, Director, at Swan Defence and Heavy Industries Ltd.

Merchant further said "with a strategic focus on modernization and self-reliance, we are committed to expanding our capabilities beyond ship repairs and soon resuming full-scale shipbuilding operations to shape the future of the maritime sector."

The successful delivery further reinforces the company's expertise in managing complex ship repair operations with efficiency and precision, it said.

Swan Defence and Heavy Industries, formerly known as Reliance Naval and Engineering Ltd (RNEL), also said that the dry docking and refit of the second vessel also represent a key milestone in the shipyard's ongoing revival.

Earlier in January last year Swan Energy took control of the management of RNEL after emerging as the winning bidder under an insolvency resolution process.

The Indian Coast Guard's fast patrol vessel Raj Ratan was the first vessel to undergo refit exercise.

Over the three months, the vessel underwent extensive repairs and testing, carried out in collaboration with the official repair partner Krasny Defence Technologies Ltd, the company said.

As part of this overhaul, SDHI provides end-to-end services, including berthing, dry docking, undocking, and other critical yard operations essential to its completion, it said.