Indigenous Fleet Support Ship Surya, the first of its class for the Indian Navy, was launched at Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL), Visakhapatnam, on Tuesday by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. Designated FSS-1, it is the lead ship of five, and the Ministry of Defence described it as the Navy's first indigenous Fleet Support Ship.

Smt Laila Swaminathan, President of the Navy Wives Welfare Association (NWWA), performed the launch honours before the hull entered the Bay of Bengal. Singh also laid the keel of the fifth ship, FSS-5, and opened the yard's upgraded Slipway-4 and a 300-tonne Goliath crane.

"The launch of FSS1 is a symbol of achievement, keel laying of FSS5 is a symbol of resolve and the new Slipway is a symbol of our growing capability," the Defence Minister said.



Indigenous Fleet Support Ship designed and built by HSL

According to the Ministry of Defence, the Fleet Support Ships have been designed and built indigenously by HSL. They will carry enhanced cargo and fluid capacity, onboard first-line maintenance workshops, a helicopter deck for Multi-Role Helicopter operations and self-defence systems.

Work on Surya moved quickly once the contract was in place. Steel was cut for the first ship at Visakhapatnam in April 2024 and its keel was laid in November that year, according to reports at the time, putting the launch about 23 months after keel laying.

A Turkish shipbuilder had earlier been associated with the programme as a design partner. Reports at the time said it was not part of the arrangement after the contract was signed, leaving design and development as HSL's sole responsibility.

Fleet Support Ships to extend the Navy's reach

Singh said the ships would strengthen the Navy's reach, endurance and operational effectiveness in the Indian Ocean Region. A Navy operating for long periods in distant waters needs more than warships, he noted. It needs logistics, maintenance and sustained support, which these vessels provide through replenishment at sea.

Five ships across two yards

The Ministry of Defence signed the contract with HSL for five Fleet Support Ships in August 2023, a deal publicly reported at around Rs 19,000 crore. Each ship will displace more than 40,000 tonnes and carry fuel, water, ammunition and stores, letting fleet units stay at sea without returning to harbour. Two of the five hulls are being built by L&T Shipyard, Kattupalli, where keels have been laid since March 2025. In a secondary role, the ships are to be equipped for Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief, including evacuation of personnel and quick delivery of relief material.

Deliveries were scheduled at the time to begin from mid-2027.

Slipway-4 cleared for ships of up to 45,000 DWT

The upgraded Slipway-4 has been extended and strengthened, allowing HSL to build and launch ships of up to 45,000 deadweight tonnes (DWT). The 300-tonne Goliath crane spans Slipways 3 and 4. It was designed and manufactured by L&T Geostructure with Konecranes under Make in India, and carries PLC controls, Variable Frequency Drives, tandem lifting, remote diagnostics and condition monitoring for faster handling of heavier blocks. The ministry said the new infrastructure would let HSL take on larger and more complex shipbuilding programmes.

Visakhapatnam pitched as a Maritime Industrial Hub

Singh recalled the launch of Jala Usha, the first ship built in independent India, at Visakhapatnam in 1948. HSL attained Miniratna Category-I status in 2025 after coming under the Ministry of Defence, and has built around 200 vessels since it was set up in 1941, according to the shipyard. Its recent work for the Navy includes the diving support vessel Nipun, since commissioned at Naval Dockyard, Mumbai.

The Eastern Naval Command, the Naval Dockyard, HSL and Visakhapatnam Port together give the city the base of an integrated maritime ecosystem, the Defence Minister said, calling for it to be developed as a major Maritime Industrial Hub. He urged closer links with Andhra Pradesh's MSMEs, universities, technology firms and startups.

"India's maritime strength cannot be built by the Navy or shipyards alone," he said.

"Self-reliance is an important milestone, but global competitiveness is the next big leap," Singh added, saying Indian yards should compete with the world's best on quality, cost, technology, delivery and reliability, and serve friendly nations. He had set out a similar export ambition at the Defence Conclave in New Delhi last month. For HSL, his priorities included timely delivery as an organisational culture, stronger indigenous design capability and closer coordination with the Indian Navy.

Surya's launch was attended by Adm Krishna Swaminathan, Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Adm Sanjay Bhalla, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command, Secretary (Defence Production) Sanjeev Kumar, Rear Adm C Raghuram (Retd), Chairman and Managing Director of HSL, and Additional Director General Donny Michael, Coast Guard Commander, Eastern Seaboard.