Fleet Support Ship FSS-1 to be launched at Hindustan Shipyard
Why in the news
The Defence Ministry announced on 5 October 2026 that Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh will launch the first Fleet Support Ship (FSS-1) of the Indian Navy at Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL), Visakhapatnam, on 6 October 2026.
Key facts
- Programme: five Fleet Support Ships being built at HSL for the Navy.
- Displacement: about 43,500 tonnes per ship.
- Speed of build: FSS-1 enters the water 18 months after its steel was cut.
- Keel laying of FSS-5 will take place at the same event.
- Infrastructure: upgraded Slipway-4 (longer, stronger) and a new 300-tonne Goliath crane to be inaugurated; together they allow vessels up to 45,000 DWT.
- Role: refuelling and resupplying warships at sea, so they stay deployed longer across the Indian Ocean Region.
- Andhra Pradesh CM N. Chandrababu Naidu, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Krishna Swaminathan and Defence Production Secretary Sanjeev Kumar are expected to attend.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Number of ships | 5 |
| Displacement | about 43,500 tonnes |
| Crane | 300-tonne Goliath |
| Slipway-4 capacity | up to 45,000 DWT |
About Hindustan Shipyard Limited
HSL is a shipyard at Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, and is the builder of the FSS series for the Indian Navy.
Exam angle
- FSS-1 launch at HSL Visakhapatnam; five ships of about 43,500 tonnes.
- Role of fleet support ships: replenishment at sea.
- Current Chief of Naval Staff: Admiral Krishna Swaminathan.