Keel Laying Ceremony Of Indian Navy’s First Fleet Support Ship Held At HSL

The keel laying ceremony for the first fleet support ship for the Indian Navy was conducted at Hindustan Shipyard Limited building dock, Visakhapatnam on 14th November 2024.

The event was presided over by Vice Admiral B Siva Kumar, Controller Warship Production & Acquisition and the Chairman & Managing Director, HSL and senior Indian Navy officials.

Indian Navy had entered into an agreement with HSL to acquire 5 fleet support ships in August 2023. The vessels are expected to be delivered starting from mid-2027, per reports.

The fleet support ships will enhance the Indian Navy’s blue water capabilities. The vessels, with displacements of over 40,000 tons, will aid in replenishing naval ships at sea with water, fuel, ammunition, and stores, preventing the need for naval ships to return to ports or harbours and thereby increase their operational reach and mobility.

Additionally, the fleet support ships will also undertake humanitarian aid and disaster relief operations if required. They would be deployed to evacuate personnel and civilians in emergencies and deliver relief materials during natural disasters.

The construction of these ships is a proud moment for the country since the design and sourcing of most equipment are from native sources and companies, boosting the Indian Shipbuilding Industry as envisaged under the Indian Government’s AatmanirbharBharat or MakeInIndia initiatives.

This event at HSL was also a testament to the increasing trust of the Indian Navy in the abilities of HSL to design and construct advanced warships which meet international standards.

The event was a memorable occasion for HSL since keel laying for an important Indian Navy Vessel has been the dream come true for the shipyard since it was transferred to the Defence Ministry in 2010, the release mentioned.

This achievement shows the increasing capabilities of HSL and its alignment with India’s goal of self-reliance in Defence under the Atmanirbhar Baharat Initiative.

The project is expected to generate employment for around 169 lakh man-days over 8 years for a skilled workforce and would lead to the participation of related industries, including 550 MSMEs, per the release.

References: Naval News, The Hindu