Keel Laying Ceremony of First Fleet Support Ship Marks Milestone in Naval Capability Enhancement

Visakhapatnam: The Keel Laying ceremony for the first of five Fleet Support Ships (FSS) was successfully conducted at Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL) in Visakhapatnam today. The ceremony, presided over by Vice Admiral B. Siva Kumar, Controller Warship Production & Acquisition, was attended by senior officials from both the Indian Navy and HSL, including the Chairman & Managing Director of Hindustan Shipyard.

The contract for the acquisition of these five Fleet Support Ships was signed between the Indian Navy and HSL in August 2023. The first ship of the series is expected to be delivered to the Indian Navy by mid-2027, with subsequent ships following the scheduled timeline.

Designed to bolster the Indian Navy’s ‘Blue Water’ capabilities, these ships will be critical for the replenishment of fleet ships at sea, ensuring extended operational reach without the need to return to port. Each ship, with a displacement of over 40,000 tons, will be equipped to carry and deliver essential supplies such as fuel, water, ammunition, and stores to naval vessels, thereby significantly enhancing the strategic reach and mobility of the Indian Navy’s fleet.

In addition to their primary role, the Fleet Support Ships will also serve in a secondary capacity for Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations. They will be equipped for evacuating personnel in emergency situations and ensuring quick delivery of relief materials during natural calamities.

The project is also a significant step towards enhancing the indigenous shipbuilding capabilities in India, with the design of the ships and the sourcing of equipment largely being undertaken by Indian manufacturers. This aligns with the Government of India’s initiatives like #AatmanirbharBharat, #MakeinIndia, and #MakefortheWorld, which aim to make India a global hub for advanced shipbuilding and defense manufacturing.

The successful keel laying of these Fleet Support Ships marks a pivotal moment in strengthening the Indian Navy’s operational readiness and its ability to undertake long-duration missions across vast oceans, reinforcing India’s position as a leading maritime power in the region.