Visakhapatnam, October 6: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday launched FSS-1 ‘Surya’, the first of five indigenous Fleet Support Ships being built for the Indian Navy, at Hindustan Shipyard Limited in Visakhapatnam.
Singh also laid the keel of the fifth Fleet Support Ship, FSS-5, and inaugurated the upgraded Slipway-4 and a 300-tonne Goliath Crane at the shipyard.
According to the Ministry of Defence, the Fleet Support Ships are 43,500-tonne vessels being built to strengthen the Indian Navy’s operational reach and endurance by providing at-sea replenishment and sustained support during extended deployments.
FSS-1 Surya has been designed and built indigenously by Hindustan Shipyard Limited.
The ships will have enhanced cargo and fluid-carrying capacity, onboard first-line maintenance workshops, a helicopter deck capable of supporting multi-role helicopter operations and self-defence systems.
The Defence Minister said the ships would improve the Navy’s ability to sustain operations at sea for longer periods and strengthen its operational effectiveness in the Indian Ocean Region.
The upgraded Slipway-4 at HSL has been extended and strengthened to enable the shipyard to build and launch vessels of up to 45,000 deadweight tonnes.
HSL has also commissioned a 300-tonne Goliath Crane spanning Slipways 3 and 4. The crane was designed and manufactured by L&T Geostructure with Konecranes under the Make in India initiative.
The crane is equipped with programmable logic controller systems, variable frequency drives, tandem lifting capability, remote diagnostics and condition monitoring.
The ministry said the upgraded infrastructure would enable faster and more precise handling of heavier ship blocks and strengthen HSL’s capacity to execute larger and more complex shipbuilding programmes using modern block-construction techniques.
Singh also called for Visakhapatnam to be developed as a major maritime industrial hub by leveraging the presence of the Eastern Naval Command, Naval Dockyard, Hindustan Shipyard Limited, Visakhapatnam Port, engineering capabilities and skilled manpower.
He said HSL should deepen its engagement with Andhra Pradesh’s industrial ecosystem, including MSMEs, universities, technology companies and startups, while strengthening indigenous design capabilities, productivity, supply-chain resilience and timely project delivery.
The Defence Minister also said Indian shipyards should compete globally on quality, cost, technology, delivery and reliability, while building a stronger presence in international markets in maritime technology, ship repair and maintenance services and engineering expertise.
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