A New Era for Indian Shipbuilding

SMEC Automation to Support VARD Electro (India) in Delivering the Next-Generation SOV Fleet at Cochin Shipyard

SMEC Automation Pvt. Ltd., a premier provider of marine engineering solutions, has officially entered into a landmark strategic commercial agreement to support VARD Electro (India). This alliance is set to revolutionize the Indian shipbuilding landscape by delivering fully integrated equipment packages and providing end-to-end execution of electrical installations for newbuild vessels across major Indian shipyards.

By merging VARD Electro’s renowned technical heritage with SMEC’s dominant local execution and engineering infrastructure, this collaboration creates a formidable “Turnkey” solution for the Indian maritime sector. This initiative directly accelerates India’s Harit Nauka initiative and addresses the rigorous IMO decarbonization mandates currently reshaping global fleet standards.

The immediate focus of this support includes the integration of advanced Electric Propulsion systems into two landmark Service Operation Vessels (SOVs) currently being built at Cochin Shipyard Ltd — vessels built to serve the rapidly expanding European offshore wind market, where demand for IMO-compliant, electrically integrated newbuilds is accelerating sharply.

The global electric ship market is projected to reach USD 18.39 billion by 2032, driven by a surge in demand for next-generation, emission-compliant SOVs. As Cochin Shipyard Ltd. emerges as a global hub for these vessels, this alliance provides the localized, high-spec electrical integration required to meet the standards. We are here to ensure that India’s manufacturing excellence is matched by world-class electric propulsion execution.”

“This agreement to support VARD Electro (India) is a definitive statement of intent for the future of Indian maritime infrastructure,” stated Saiju Mohamed, Managing Director of SMEC Automation. “We are bridging the gap between global innovation and local excellence. By bringing world-class electrical integration and equipment directly to Indian shores, we are empowering local shipyards to build vessels that are globally competitive, technologically advanced, and future-ready.”

For over 25 years, SMEC Automation has been a trusted engineering partner at Cochin Shipyard Ltd. Today, that legacy evolves as we provide critical technical support to VARD Electro (India) to bring Electric Propulsion to these landmark vessels, ensuring high-quality, reliable, and efficient project delivery from design to commissioning.