Daijiworld Media Network - Visakhapatnam
Visakhapatnam, Oct 6: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday launched Fleet Support Ship-1 (FSS-1), laid the keel for FSS-5 and inaugurated the upgraded Slipway-4 and a 300-tonne Goliath Crane at Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL) in Visakhapatnam, highlighting India's growing indigenous shipbuilding capabilities.
Speaking at the event, Singh said the launch represented India's achievement, the keel-laying its resolve and the upgraded slipway its growing capacity.
"Today at HSL, along with building ships, we are further strengthening the foundation of India's maritime power for the future," he said.
Singh said India had immense potential in shipbuilding, but converting that potential into capability and global competitiveness remained a challenge. He said the country needed to focus on timely delivery, productivity, indigenous design capabilities, supply-chain resilience, skilled manpower, capacity and cost competitiveness.
According to the Defence Ministry, the upgraded Slipway-4 has been extended and strengthened to increase its load-bearing capacity. Together with the new Goliath crane, it will enable HSL to build and launch vessels of up to 45,000 deadweight tonnes (DWT), significantly expanding its capacity to undertake larger and more complex platforms.
FSS-1, named Surya, is the first of five Fleet Support Ships being built for the Indian Navy. The 43,500-tonne vessel is expected to enter the Bay of Bengal just 18 months after steel cutting.
The Fleet Support Ships will replenish warships at sea, helping extend the Navy's operational endurance and reach across the Indian Ocean Region. The keel-laying of FSS-5 marks the programme's progression towards series production.
Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Krishna Swaminathan and Defence Production Secretary Sanjeev Kumar were present at the event.
Ahead of the programme, Singh on Monday evening attended a Barakhana organised by the Eastern Naval Command in Visakhapatnam and interacted with Indian Navy personnel and their families.