Ministry of Defence Launches Indigenous Fleet Support Ship and Infrastructure Upgrades
Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh launched the first indigenous Fleet Support Ship (FSS-1) named 'INS Surya', laid the keel of the fifth Fleet Support Ship (FSS-5), and inaugurated upgraded infrastructure at Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL) in Visakhapatnam on October 06, 2026. The event marks significant progress in India's indigenous maritime capability and shipbuilding capacity.
The Fleet Support Ships are designed and built indigenously by HSL and will feature enhanced cargo and fluid capacity, onboard first-line maintenance workshops, a helicopter deck for Multi-Role Helicopter operations, and self-defence systems. These vessels are intended to strengthen the Indian Navy's operational reach, endurance, and effectiveness in the Indian Ocean Region through at-sea replenishment and sustained support capabilities.
Infrastructure Enhancements for Larger Shipbuilding
The upgraded Slipway-4 has been extended and strengthened to enable HSL to build and launch ships of up to 45,000 DWT. The newly installed 300-tonne Goliath Crane, spanning Slipways 3 and 4, was designed and manufactured by M/s L&T Geostructure with Konecranes under the Make in India initiative. The crane features PLC controls, Variable Frequency Drives, tandem lifting, remote diagnostics, and condition monitoring, enabling faster and more precise handling of heavier blocks for modern block construction methods.
Strategic Vision for Maritime Industrial Hub
The Raksha Mantri emphasized that HSL attained Miniratna Category-I status in 2025 after coming under the Ministry of Defence, reflecting its transformation and sustained efforts. He called for developing Visakhapatnam as a major Maritime Industrial Hub by integrating naval expertise, shipbuilding capability, engineering talent, port infrastructure, and skilled manpower. The minister stressed the need for an integrated national maritime ecosystem involving the Navy, HSL, DRDO, academia, industry, MSMEs, and startups, noting that India's maritime strength cannot be built by the Navy or shipyards alone.
Key priorities outlined include timely delivery as an organizational culture, learning from global shipyards, stronger indigenous design capability, partnerships with MSMEs and startups, and developing lifecycle capability. The ultimate objective is to move beyond self-reliance to global competitiveness, with Indian shipyards aspiring to serve friendly nations and international markets while developing a global presence in maritime technology, ship repair, maintenance services, and engineering expertise.