Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on October 6, 2026, launched the first Fleet Support Ship (FSS-1), named INS Surya, at Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL) in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. During the event, he also laid the keel of the fifth Fleet Support Ship (FSS-5) and inaugurated the upgraded Slipway-4 and a 300-tonne Goliath Crane at the shipyard.
The three milestones were highlighted as important steps in strengthening HSL’s shipbuilding capabilities and advancing India’s indigenous maritime capability. Addressing the gathering, Rajnath Singh said, “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 the milestones went beyond individual achievements and reflected the strengthening of HSL’s shipbuilding capacity and the foundation of India’s maritime power. He also called upon HSL to establish itself as a benchmark for quality, productivity and timely delivery.
Recalling the launch of Jala Usha, the first ship built in independent India, at Visakhapatnam in 1948, Rajnath Singh highlighted India’s longstanding maritime heritage and its historical relationship with the sea. He described HSL as a custodian of India’s national maritime capability and appreciated its contribution to the country’s maritime and defence requirements for more than eight decades.
The Defence Minister also highlighted HSL’s attainment of Miniratna Category-I status in 2025 after coming under the Ministry of Defence, describing it as an important milestone reflecting the shipyard’s transformation and sustained efforts.
The Fleet Support Ship programme is aimed at strengthening the Indian Navy’s reach, endurance and operational effectiveness in the Indian Ocean Region. Rajnath Singh noted that naval forces operating for extended periods in distant maritime areas require logistics, maintenance, sustained support and operational endurance in addition to warships.
Fleet Support Ships provide this essential support through at-sea replenishment and sustained assistance to naval operations. The launch of FSS-1 was therefore described as an important step towards strengthening the Navy’s operational reach and endurance, while the keel laying of FSS-5 marks another milestone in the programme.
FSS-1, named INS Surya, was launched following the traditional honours performed by Smt. Laila Swaminathan, President, Navy Wives Wellness Association (NWWA). The vessel entered the waters of the Bay of Bengal amid cheers from the gathering.
Designed and built indigenously by HSL, the Fleet Support Ships will feature enhanced cargo and fluid capacity, onboard first-line maintenance workshops, a helicopter deck for Multi-Role Helicopter operations and self-defence systems.
The event also marked the inauguration of upgraded shipbuilding infrastructure at HSL. Slipway-4 has been extended and strengthened to enable the shipyard to build and launch ships of up to 45,000 DWT.
The 300-tonne Goliath Crane spanning Slipways 3 and 4 has been designed and manufactured by M/s L&T Geostructure with Konecranes under the Make in India initiative. Equipped with PLC controls, Variable Frequency Drives, tandem lifting, remote diagnostics and condition monitoring, the crane is intended to enable faster and more precise handling of heavier blocks for modern block construction.
The upgraded infrastructure is expected to strengthen HSL’s ability to undertake larger and more complex shipbuilding programmes and support modern block construction.
Rajnath Singh stressed that self-reliance should be followed by global competitiveness. He said Indian shipyards should be able to compete with leading shipyards globally on quality, cost, technology, delivery and reliability.
The Defence Minister also called for HSL to become more closely integrated with Andhra Pradesh’s wider industrial ecosystem. He said the State’s MSMEs could become suppliers, universities could contribute to research and skill development, technology companies could support digital shipbuilding, and startups could develop maritime technologies.
He called for the development of a complete shipbuilding ecosystem around HSL, supported by logistics, port infrastructure, research, technology and skilled manpower.
Highlighting Visakhapatnam’s strategic importance, Rajnath Singh pointed to the presence of the Eastern Naval Command, Naval Dockyard, HSL and Visakhapatnam Port as the foundation of an integrated maritime ecosystem. He called for Visakhapatnam to be developed as a major Maritime Industrial Hub by bringing together naval expertise, shipbuilding capabilities, engineering talent, port infrastructure and skilled manpower.
The Defence Minister also stressed the need for an integrated national maritime ecosystem involving the Indian Navy, HSL, DRDO, academia, industry, MSMEs and startups. He said India’s maritime strength could not be built by the Navy or shipyards alone and called for greater integration among stakeholders.
“Our goal should be simple and clear — Design better. Build faster. Deliver on time. Operate efficiently and do Maintenance effectively,” Rajnath Singh said.
He highlighted timely delivery, productivity, indigenous design capability, supply chain resilience, skilled manpower, capacity and cost competitiveness as key areas that would determine India’s ability to convert its shipbuilding potential into global competitiveness.
Outlining priorities for HSL, the Defence Minister called for timely delivery to become an organisational culture, greater learning from leading global shipyards, stronger indigenous design capabilities, partnerships with MSMEs and startups, and the development of lifecycle capabilities. He also emphasised closer coordination between the Navy and shipyards.
Rajnath Singh further said India’s objective should go beyond self-reliance towards global competitiveness. Indian shipyards should aspire to serve friendly nations and international markets and develop a global presence in maritime technology, ship repair and maintenance services and engineering expertise.
The event was attended by Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, Chief of the Naval Staff; Janardhan Reddy, Minister of Roads, Buildings, Infrastructure & Development, Government of Andhra Pradesh; Sribharat Mathukumilli, Member of Parliament, Visakhapatnam; Sanjeev Kumar, Secretary (Defence Production); Vice Admiral Sanjay Bhalla, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command; Additional Director General Donny Michael, Coast Guard Commander, Eastern Seaboard; Rear Admiral C. Raghuram (Retd), Chairman & Managing Director, HSL; and senior officers of the Indian Navy and Ministry of Defence.
The launch of INS Surya, keel laying of FSS-5 and commissioning of upgraded shipbuilding infrastructure together marked a significant day for HSL, combining progress in indigenous ship construction with expansion of the shipyard’s capacity to undertake larger and more complex vessels.
