Rajnath Singh to Launch India's First Indigenous Fleet Support Ship in Vizag on October 6

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is scheduled to launch the first indigenously built Fleet Support Ship (FSS) at the Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL) dockyard in Visakhapatnam on October 6. The launch is a milestone in the Navy's Fleet Support Ship programme, which aims to reduce dependence on foreign yards for large auxiliary vessels.

Mr. Singh is expected to arrive in the city on October 5 and attend the shipyard event the following day. Besides launching the first ship of the class into the water, he will inaugurate Slipway 4 and preside over the keel-laying ceremony of FSS-4, the fourth vessel in the series. According to shipyard officials, deliveries of the 45,000-tonne ships are expected to begin from 2027 onwards.

What fleet support ships do

Fleet Support Ships are auxiliary vessels that carry fuel, fresh water, ammunition and dry provisions for warships at sea. They allow carrier battle groups such as INS Vikrant and INS Vikramaditya, destroyers such as INS Visakhapatnam and frigates such as INS Shivalik to remain deployed far from home ports for extended periods. Without mid-sea replenishment, combat ships would have to leave formation and return to port to refuel and restock, cutting short their deployment.

The Indian Navy currently operates four fleet tankers: INS Shakti and INS Jyoti, based on the Eastern coast at Visakhapatnam, and INS Deepak and INS Aditya, based on the Western coast at Mumbai. Between them, they support more than 50 frontline combatants. In the past, such vessels were built abroad, notably by the Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri.

The indigenous contract

The current programme traces back to a contract signed on August 25, 2023, when the Ministry of Defence awarded a ₹19,000-crore order to the state-run HSL for five 45,000-tonne Fleet Support Ships. HSL, one of the country's older shipbuilding yards, is the primary builder for the project. The ships are part of a broader effort to have major naval auxiliaries constructed within the country.

Why logistics matters in the Indo-Pacific

As the Navy widens its presence across the Indo-Pacific, maritime logistics has moved to the centre of planning. Sustained operations in distant waters depend on a steady supply of fuel and stores, and navies with global reach maintain large fleets of replenishment ships. The United States Navy, for instance, operates the world's largest such fleet to support its deployments worldwide.

Officials at HSL described the October 6 events as a significant moment for Indian shipbuilding, coming at a time when the Navy is seeking to keep more warships at sea for longer durations. The launch of the first ship and the keel-laying of another within the same programme reflect the yard's continuing work on the order, which will take several years to complete.

Further details of the ceremony, including the names of the vessels and the timelines for the remaining ships, are expected to be announced by the Ministry of Defence at the event.