
Svitzer places tug order with Indian shipyard
One of India’s largest shipbuilders, Swan Defence and Heavy Industries Limited (SDHI), has won an important contract from Denmark-based towage operator Svitzer, to construct four TRAnsverse 3200 type tugs at its yard in Pipavav, Gujarat, adjacent to the port where Svitzer also has a harbour towage operation Delivery of the new tugs, constructed to BV class standards, is scheduled to commence in early 2028.
Co-developed by naval architects Robert Allan Ltd. and Svitzer, the patented TRAnsverse 3200 design is intended for complex harbour towage and escort operations. Featuring a hydrodynamic hull design and omni-directional propulsion, the vessels are capable of safely guiding large ships through severe weather and restricted port channels. Delivering an 80 tonnes bollard pull, the TRAnsverse design is claimed to be up to 15% more fuel efficient than conventional tug designs, thereby directly supporting global maritime decarbonisation goals.
The TRAnverse 3200 tugs built by SDHI will be capable of running on biofuel, will meet IMO Tier III emissions standards, and will be FiFi1 firefighting class ready. As a result, they will possess a capability for delivering reduced environmental impact and enhanced fire-response readiness in port and terminal operations.



















