Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to Launch First Fleet Support Ship at Visakhapatnam
New Delhi, October 5: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will launch Fleet Support Ship-1 (FSS-1), lay the keel of Fleet Support Ship-5 (FSS-5), and inaugurate the upgraded Slipway-4 and a 300-tonne Goliath Crane at Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL), Visakhapatnam, on October 6, 2026.
The events will mark a significant milestone in India’s indigenous shipbuilding capabilities and the expansion of infrastructure for construction of large and complex naval platforms.
The upgraded Slipway-4, featuring an extended length and enhanced load-bearing capacity, along with the 300-tonne Goliath Crane, will enable HSL to build and launch vessels of up to 45,000 DWT, substantially strengthening the shipyard’s capacity.
FSS-1 is the first of five Fleet Support Ships being constructed for the Indian Navy. The 43,500-tonne vessel is scheduled to enter the Bay of Bengal just 18 months after steel cutting. The Fleet Support Ships are designed to replenish warships at sea, enhancing the Navy’s endurance and operational reach across the Indian Ocean Region.
The keel laying of FSS-5 will mark further progress in the Fleet Support Ship programme and its transition towards series production.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Krishna Swaminathan and Secretary (Defence Production) Sanjeev Kumar, among other senior officials, are expected to attend the programme. ANB
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