Berg Propulsion to Open Mumbai Office as India Shipbuilding Business Expands

Swedish marine propulsion specialist Berg Propulsion is establishing a dedicated office in Mumbai from January 1, 2027, deepening its presence in India as the company pursues opportunities across naval, Coast Guard and commercial shipbuilding programmes.

The Mumbai office will become the company’s principal contact point for its activities in India and support relationships with major Indian shipbuilders including Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers, Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited and Chowgule Shipyard.

The expansion follows Berg’s growing involvement in Indian vessel programmes, including the supply of integrated electric propulsion systems for two new-generation electric harbour tugs being built by Mumbai-headquartered KMEW Group under India’s Green Tug Transition Programme.

Dedicated India Team to Operate From Mumbai

The new operation will be headed by Amrita Singh, currently responsible for new sales at Berg Propulsion, who will take over as General Manager of the Mumbai office.

She will be supported by Prasenjit Roy, a former Indian Navy Commander who previously served as Programme Manager for Commercial Shipbuilding at GRSE.

Roy already has an operational role in Berg’s Indian business. The company’s official announcement concerning the KMEW electric tug programme identified him as its India business developer responsible for overseeing installation and commissioning of the propulsion packages.

The combination gives Berg an Indian team spanning business development, shipbuilding programme management, commissioning and quality assurance as it increases its involvement with domestic yards.

Naval and Coast Guard Programmes Seen as Major Opportunity

Berg sees India’s expanding naval and Coast Guard shipbuilding programmes as an important market for its propulsion technology.

The company specialises in marine propulsion and electrical systems, including controllable-pitch propellers, azimuth and transverse thrusters, vessel controls and integrated electrical systems.

Controllable-pitch propeller systems allow the pitch of propeller blades to be altered while the propeller is rotating. This enables vessels to adjust thrust without relying solely on changes in engine speed, providing greater operational flexibility across different vessel speeds and operating conditions.

Such systems are widely applicable to vessels requiring efficient operation across varying mission profiles — making the technology relevant to both commercial and specialised government ships.

Berg’s India team sees opportunities emerging as the Indian Navy and Coast Guard expand their fleets while domestic shipyards assume a larger role in construction.

Green Shipbuilding Opens Another Market

Commercial and green shipbuilding represents another part of Berg’s India strategy.

Indian shipyards are increasingly examining hybrid propulsion, variable-speed drives, electric propulsion and controllable-pitch propeller configurations as fuel efficiency and emissions become more important in vessel procurement.

Berg already has a significant foothold in this transition through the two electric tugs being constructed by KMEW Group.

The 33.55-metre vessels are being built as part of India’s Green Tug Transition Programme. Each is designed for 60 tonnes of bollard pull and will use lithium-titanium-oxide battery systems, with dual diesel generator sets providing backup power

Berg is supplying the electric motors and contra-rotating L-type thrusters along with a complete electrical-system integration package and propulsion controls.

The vessels are expected to enter service in the fourth quarter of 2027, subject to Indian Register of Shipping approval.

Electric Tug Project Gives Berg an Early Indian Reference

The KMEW programme is particularly important because it provides Berg with an operating reference as India begins moving towards lower-emission harbour craft.

During development of the vessels, Berg worked with naval architect Navnautik and KMEW on integrating the propulsion equipment into the limited space available aboard the tugs.

According to Berg, redesigning the arrangement allowed the switchboard room to be reduced by approximately 40%, with much of the propulsion equipment positioned towards the aft section of the vessel.

India’s Green Tug Transition Programme is intended to progressively introduce cleaner tug propulsion across major ports, creating a potential market for batteries, electric motors, power-management systems and advanced propulsion equipment.

For companies such as Berg, the programme therefore provides an entry point into a much broader transition taking place within India’s maritime industry.

Berg Targets Tugs, Dredgers and Offshore Support Vessels

Beyond defence shipbuilding, Berg plans to expand its Indian business across tugs, dredgers and offshore support vessels.

These vessel categories are particularly suited to propulsion optimisation because they frequently operate under highly variable load conditions. Tugs, for example, alternate between relatively low-power transit and extremely high thrust during towing operations.

Dredgers and offshore support vessels similarly operate across different speeds and power requirements, creating opportunities for controllable-pitch, hybrid and integrated propulsion systems.

Berg’s decision to establish a local operation consequently represents more than the opening of a sales office. The company is positioning itself closer to Indian shipyards during vessel design, construction, installation, commissioning and subsequent lifecycle support.

Service Network Planned in Mumbai, Kochi and Visakhapatnam

Berg also intends to establish a network of trained service agents in Mumbai, Kochi and Visakhapatnam.

The choice of the three cities reflects their importance to Indian shipbuilding, naval activity and commercial maritime operations.

The company plans to recruit Indian technical personnel and establish training programmes to build local capability for servicing and supporting its equipment.

A domestic service network can be particularly important for propulsion equipment because ships may remain in operation for several decades and require periodic maintenance, spare parts, troubleshooting and upgrades throughout their working lives.

Having trained personnel closer to vessels and shipyards can reduce dependence on specialists travelling from overseas for routine support.

Mumbai Office Could Also Support South Asia

Although the new operation is primarily intended to expand Berg’s Indian business, the company also sees the possibility of using Mumbai as a base for supporting customers elsewhere in South Asia, including Sri Lanka.

That would give the Indian operation a wider regional role within Berg’s international service and sales network.

The company is headquartered in Hönö, Sweden, and manufactures marine propulsion equipment while maintaining an international sales and lifecycle-support network.

Its international footprint could expand further following the agreement announced in July for Kongsberg Maritime to acquire Berg Propulsion. The proposed transaction is intended to combine Berg’s integrated propulsion expertise with Kongsberg Maritime’s wider marine technology portfolio.

Global Marine Suppliers Move Closer to Indian Shipyards

Berg’s decision to establish a permanent Mumbai office is another indication of how international marine-equipment suppliers are responding to the expanding pipeline of Indian shipbuilding programmes.

The opportunity extends beyond constructing hulls. A modern vessel requires propulsion systems, generators, electric drives, navigation equipment, sensors, automation, power-management systems and numerous other specialised technologies.

As Indian yards undertake more complex commercial, naval and low-emission vessels, the supporting marine-equipment ecosystem becomes increasingly important.

For Berg Propulsion, India is already moving from a prospective market to an active project base. The January 2027 Mumbai office, planned service presence across three Indian maritime centres and existing involvement in India’s electric tug programme will give the Swedish propulsion specialist a considerably deeper position within that emerging ecosystem.

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References

Berg Propulsion. “Berg Propulsion Drives India’s Green Tug Transition.” Official company release, 11 May 2026. Berg Propulsion

Berg Propulsion. Official company information on agreement for Kongsberg Maritime to acquire Berg Propulsion. 2026. Berg Propulsion

International Bulk Journal. “Berg Propulsion Opens Dedicated Office in Mumbai to Grow Indian Market.” 17 September 2026. IBJ Online

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