Visakhapatnam, — Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will launch the Indian Navy’s first Fleet Support Ship, FSS-1, at Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL) in Visakhapatnam on October 6, 2026.
During the event, Singh will also lay the keel of the fifth ship in the series, FSS-5, and inaugurate HSL’s upgraded Slipway-4 and a new 300-tonne Goliath Crane.
Five-Ship Fleet Support Programme
FSS-1 is the first of five Fleet Support Ships being built under an approximately ₹19,000-crore contract signed between the Ministry of Defence and HSL in August 2023.
The ships are being designed and constructed in India, with the majority of their equipment sourced from domestic manufacturers.
FSS-1, weighing about 43,500 tonnes, is expected to enter the Bay of Bengal just 18 months after its steel-cutting ceremony.
Replenishment Capability
The Fleet Support Ships are designed to replenish Indian Navy warships at sea with fuel, water, ammunition and stores. This will allow naval vessels to remain deployed for longer periods without returning to harbour.
The ships will also have a secondary role in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations and non-combatant evacuation.
The vessels are approximately 228.8 metres long, with a displacement of around 43,500 to 45,000 tonnes. They will use two 12 MW marine engines with controllable-pitch propellers, providing a top speed of 20 knots and an operational range of 12,000 nautical miles.
Construction and Delivery Schedule
Deliveries are scheduled to begin from mid-2027, with subsequent ships planned at intervals of around 10 to 12 months.
Two of the five ships are being built in collaboration with L&T Shipyard at Kattupalli to use additional shipbuilding capacity and support the programme’s timelines.
HSL Infrastructure Upgrade
The upgraded Slipway-4 has an extended length and increased load-bearing capacity. Along with the new 300-tonne Goliath Crane, it will enable HSL to build and launch vessels of up to 45,000 deadweight tonnes (DWT).
The upgraded infrastructure will expand HSL’s ability to construct larger and more complex platforms.
Officials Expected to Attend
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Krishna Swaminathan and Secretary (Defence Production) Sanjeev Kumar are among those expected to attend the ceremonies.
Rajnath Singh is scheduled to arrive in Visakhapatnam on October 5 after engagements in Ayodhya.
The Fleet Support Ship programme is part of the Indian Navy’s efforts to strengthen its blue-water capabilities through indigenous shipbuilding.
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