Rajnath Singh to launch first Fleet Support Ship, lay keel for fifth at HSL
Visakhapatnam, Oct 5. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will on October 7 launch the Indian Navy’s first Fleet Support Ship (FSS-1), lay the keel for the fifth vessel of the series and inaugurate an upgraded slipway and a 300-tonne Goliath crane at Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL) here, highlighting India’s growing capability to build large and complex naval platforms indigenously.
According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Defence, the FSS-1 launch will mark a major milestone in the Navy’s programme to acquire five fleet support ships, each weighing around 43,500 tonnes. The vessels are designed to provide at-sea replenishment to warships, enabling them to remain deployed for longer periods and extending the Navy’s operational reach across the Indian Ocean Region.
FSS-1 is being launched just 18 months after its steel cutting, reflecting the shipyard’s efforts to accelerate construction and strengthen its capacity for large naval platforms. The keel laying of FSS-5 will further advance the programme towards series production.
The fleet support ships will play an important role in sustaining Indian naval task forces during prolonged deployments by replenishing fuel, stores and other essential supplies while at sea. Such capabilities are particularly important for maintaining sustained maritime operations over long distances.
Singh will also inaugurate the upgraded Slipway-4 and the newly installed 300-tonne Goliath crane at HSL. The extended slipway, with enhanced load-bearing capacity, will allow the shipyard to build and launch vessels of up to 45,000 deadweight tonnes (DWT).
The upgraded infrastructure is expected to significantly enhance HSL’s ability to undertake the construction of larger and more complex ships, strengthening the country’s indigenous shipbuilding ecosystem and reducing dependence on foreign yards for major naval platforms.
The events will be attended by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, Defence Production Secretary Sanjeev Kumar and senior officials from the Ministry of Defence, the Indian Navy and HSL.
