Rajnath Singh Commissions First Fleet Support Ship at Visakhapatnam’s HSL

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday inaugurated several major facilities and marked key milestones at Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL) in Visakhapatnam, underscoring India’s growing indigenous naval shipbuilding capabilities.

Singh commissioned Fleet Support Ship-1 (FSS-1), the first of five such vessels being built for the Indian Navy, and laid the keel for FSS-5. He also inaugurated the upgraded Slipway-4 and a 300-tonne Goliath crane, developments that are expected to significantly enhance HSL’s capacity to undertake large and complex shipbuilding projects.

The upgraded infrastructure will allow the shipyard to construct and launch vessels of up to 45,000 deadweight tonnes (DWT). The expansion of Slipway-4, combined with the new heavy-lifting crane, is expected to improve HSL’s ability to handle larger vessels and undertake more demanding naval construction programmes.

FSS-1 has been completed at a notable pace, entering the Bay of Bengal within 18 months of the commencement of steel cutting. The approximately 43,500-tonne vessel is designed to provide fuel, provisions and other essential supplies to naval ships while they remain at sea. Such support vessels are crucial for enabling warships to operate for longer durations without returning to port.

The fleet support ships are expected to strengthen the Indian Navy’s ability to sustain prolonged deployments across the Indian Ocean Region and expand its operational reach. With the keel laying of FSS-5, the programme is also moving towards series production, signalling greater momentum in indigenous naval shipbuilding.

The programme was attended by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, Defence Production Secretary Sanjeev Kumar and other senior officials.

Earlier, Singh attended a Barakhana hosted by the Eastern Naval Command in Visakhapatnam on Monday evening, where he interacted with Navy personnel and their families. He appreciated their commitment to protecting India’s maritime interests and acknowledged the sacrifices and support provided by their families.

The Defence Minister also recalled the Navy’s role in the 1971 war, particularly Operation Trident, which targeted Karachi harbour. He said the operation demonstrated the Navy’s ability to protect India’s maritime interests while undertaking offensive missions when required. Singh paid tribute to naval personnel who had displayed courage and made sacrifices in the service of the nation.