Raksha Mantri Launches First Indigenous Fleet Support Ship INS Surya at HSL Visakhapatnam

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh launched the Navy's first indigenous Fleet Support Ship, FSS-1, named 'Surya', at Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL), Visakhapatnam, on 6 October 2026. He also laid the keel of FSS-5 and inaugurated the upgraded Slipway-4 and a 300-tonne Goliath Crane. The traditional launch honours were performed by Laila Swaminathan, President of the Navy Wives Wellness Association.

Fleet Support Ships to Strengthen Navy's Reach and Endurance

Fleet Support Ships supply other warships at sea, so the Navy can operate far from shore for longer.

Why Does the Navy Need Fleet Support Ships?

A Navy working in distant waters needs more than warships. It also needs fuel, supplies and maintenance. Fleet Support Ships provide all this while the other vessels are still at sea. This improves the Navy's reach and strength in the Indian Ocean Region.

Main Features of Fleet Support Ships

HSL has designed and built these ships in India. They will have:

• More space for cargo and fluids
• Workshops for first-line maintenance
• A helicopter deck for Multi-Role Helicopters
• Self-defence systems

Minister's Message

Mr Singh called the launch of FSS-1 a symbol of achievement. He called the keel laying of FSS-5 a symbol of resolve, and the new slipway a symbol of growing capability. The keel is the base of a ship, and laying it marks the start of construction.

Enhanced Infrastructure to Support Larger Shipbuilding Programmes

HSL now has a longer, stronger slipway and a heavy-duty crane, which let it build bigger and more complex ships.

Upgraded Slipway-4

A slipway is the sloping platform where ships are built and launched. Slipway-4 has been extended and strengthened. HSL can now build and launch ships of up to 45,000 DWT.

300-Tonne Goliath Crane

The crane spans Slipways 3 and 4. It was made by L&T Geostructure with Konecranes under Make in India. Its modern controls allow faster and more precise lifting of heavy ship blocks, which suits modern block construction.

HSL's Growing Strength

The minister also noted that HSL gained Miniratna Category-I status in 2025.

Andhra Pradesh to Play a Larger Role in India's Maritime Future

Mr Singh said self-reliance is important, but the next goal is global competitiveness. Indian shipyards should match top world yards in quality, cost, technology and delivery.

He wants a full shipbuilding ecosystem around HSL, with local MSMEs as suppliers, universities doing research and training, and startups building maritime technology. He called for Visakhapatnam to become a major Maritime Industrial Hub, since it already hosts the Eastern Naval Command, Naval Dockyard, HSL and Vis.