Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to Launch First Fleet Support Ship (FSS-1), Lay Keel of FSS-5

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will launch the Indian Navy's first Fleet Support Ship, FSS-1, at Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL), Visakhapatnam, on 6 October 2026. He will also lay the keel of FSS-5 and inaugurate an upgraded slipway and a heavy-lifting crane. The event shows how far India's indigenous shipbuilding has come.

Indian Navy's First Fleet Support Ship (FSS-1) Key Features

Built at a Fast Pace

FSS-1 is the first of five Fleet Support Ships being built for the Indian Navy. It will enter the waters of the Bay of Bengal only 18 months after steel cutting, which is quick for such a large vessel. Each ship in this class weighs about 43,500 tonnes.

Role at Sea

These ships supply warships while they are still at sea. Because of this, naval vessels do not need to return to port often for fuel and supplies. This increases the Navy's endurance and extends its reach across the Indian Ocean Region.

Keel Laying of FSS-5

The keel is the base of a ship's structure, and laying it marks the formal start of construction. The keel laying of FSS-5 shows that the programme is moving steadily towards series production.

Rajnath Singh to Inaugurate Upgraded Slipway-4 & 300-Tonne Goliath Crane

What the Upgrade Means?

Slipway-4 now has a longer length and a stronger load-bearing capacity. Together with the 300-tonne Goliath Crane, it will let the shipyard build and launch vessels of up to 45,000 DWT. This greatly improves HSL's ability to take on large and complex naval platforms.

Key Dignitaries Present at the Launch of Indian Navy's First Fleet Support Ship (FSS-1)

The events will be attended by N. Chandrababu Naidu, Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, Chief of the Naval Staff, and Sanjeev Kumar, Secretary (Defence Production).