Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has launched India’s first indigenous Fleet Support Ship, FSS-1 ‘Surya’, at Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL) in Visakhapatnam. The launch marks a major step in India’s efforts to strengthen indigenous naval shipbuilding and maritime capabilities.
FSS-1 is the first of five Fleet Support Ships being built by HSL for the Indian Navy. The 43,500-tonne vessels are designed to replenish warships at sea, allowing naval vessels to remain deployed for longer periods and extending the Navy’s reach and endurance across the Indian Ocean Region.
The ships will feature enhanced cargo and fluid capacity, onboard maintenance workshops, a helicopter deck for multi-role helicopter operations and self-defence systems. FSS-1 entered the waters of the Bay of Bengal just 18 months after steel cutting.
During the visit, Singh also laid the keel of the fifth Fleet Support Ship, FSS-5, marking further progress towards series production. He also inaugurated an upgraded Slipway-4 and a 300-tonne Goliath Crane at HSL.
The upgraded infrastructure will enable HSL to build and launch vessels of up to 45,000 deadweight tonnes. The new crane is designed to improve the handling of heavier ship blocks and support the construction of larger and more complex vessels.
The developments are expected to strengthen HSL’s shipbuilding capacity and support India’s broader push for self-reliance in defence production. Singh also called for Visakhapatnam to be developed as a major maritime industrial hub.
