First Fleet Support Ship launched at Visakhapatnam, fifth ship’s keel laid
Visakhapatnam, Oct 6. India’s naval logistics capabilities received a boost with the launch of the country’s first Fleet Support Ship (FSS-1), being built indigenously by Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL), Visakhapatnam, on October 6.
The launch ceremony also marked the keel laying of the fifth vessel in the Fleet Support Ship series and the inauguration of an augmented slipway at HSL, aimed at strengthening the shipyard’s infrastructure and shipbuilding capacity.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh was the chief guest at the ceremony, while Laila Swaminathan, President of the Navy Welfare and Wellness Association (NWWA), launched FSS-1 in keeping with naval traditions.
Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Krishna Swaminathan and senior officials from the Indian Navy, Ministry of Defence and HSL were among those present.
The Fleet Support Ships have been indigenously designed and are being built by HSL with more than 82 percent indigenous content. The project represents collaboration among the Indian Navy, shipyard, defence industries and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), the Defence Ministry said.
Once inducted into the Navy, the vessels will play a critical role in sustaining fleet operations at sea by providing replenishment support to warships. Their ability to refuel and resupply naval vessels at sea is expected to enhance the Navy’s blue-water operational capability and enable it to maintain a greater presence over extended distances.
The ships will also strengthen the operational logistics backbone of the Indian Navy, thereby enhancing the fleet’s strategic reach, mobility and endurance during prolonged deployments.
Beyond their primary military role, the vessels will have significant utility during humanitarian missions. They will be capable of supporting Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations as well as Non-Combatant Evacuation Operations (NEO), enabling the rapid movement of relief supplies and evacuation of personnel during crises.
The Fleet Support Ship programme is also expected to provide a major impetus to India’s domestic shipbuilding ecosystem by involving indigenous industries and MSMEs in the construction programme.
The Defence Ministry described the project as a significant milestone for the Indian shipbuilding sector and a prominent example of the government’s ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ (Self-reliant India) and ‘Make in India’ initiatives in the defence domain.
The simultaneous launch of FSS-1, keel laying of FSS-5 and inauguration of the augmented slipway underline the government’s focus on expanding indigenous naval shipbuilding capacity while strengthening the infrastructure required to support the Indian Navy’s growing operational requirements.
