The keel laying ceremony of the first of five Fleet Support Ships (FSS) for the Indian Navy was held at Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL), Visakhapatnam, on November 14, 2024. The event was presided over by Vice Admiral B. Siva Kumar, Controller of Warship Production & Acquisition, and attended by senior officials from both the Indian Navy and Hindustan Shipyard, including the Chairman and Managing Director of HSL.
On induction, the Fleet Support Ships will bolster the ‘Blue Water’ capabilities of the Indian Navy through replenishment of Fleet ships at sea. The ships, with more than 40,000 Tons displacement will carry and deliver fuel, water, ammunition and stores enabling prolonged operations without returning to harbour, thus enhancing the Fleet’s strategic reach and mobility. In a secondary role, these ships would be equipped for Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief operations for evacuation of personnel in emergency situations and quick delivery of relief material at site during natural calamities.
With indigenous design and sourcing of majority of the equipment from indigenous manufacturers, this shipbuilding project will boost the Indian Shipbuilding Industry and is in consonance with GoI initiatives of AatmanirbharBharat, Makeinindia and MakefortheWorld.
