Steel Cutting Ceremony of the second of the five Fleet Support Ships (FSS) was held at M/s L&T Shipyard, Kattupalli, on December 11, 2024. Radm Vishal Bishnoi, Assistant Controller of Warship Production & Acquisition, and senior officials from the Indian Navy, Hindustan Shipyard Ltd, and M/s L&T attended the ceremony.
Details of the Contract
On August 16, 2023, the Government of India cleared this project for $2.4 billion. The Indian Navy signed a contract with Hindustan Shipyard Ltd, Visakhapatnam, for the five Fleet Support Ships (Fleet Tanker) for $2.3 billion on August 25, 2023. The steel-cutting ceremony for the first ship took place in April 2024, and the keel for the first ship was laid down on 14 Nov 2024 at Hindustan Shipyard Ltd. Hindustan Shipyard Ltd (HSL) signed a sub-contract with L&T to build two Fleet Support Ships at Kattupalli Shipyard. The first ship is expected to be delivered in mid-2027, and subsequent ships will be delivered at a 10-12-month interval.
Design and Features of the Fleet Support Ship
These Fleet Support Ships will be 230 meters long and 4000 tonnes in displacement. They will cruise at 15 Knots and a maximum speed of 20 knots. They have a state-of-the-art refuelling system and a hanger for the HAL Dhruv helicopter. The ship would be equipped with anti-ship, anti-submarine, and CIWS systems. These ships can also be utilized for Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations.
The Fleet Support Ship will not only bolster the Indian Navy’s capabilities by replenishing water, fuel, and stores, enabling prolonged operations without returning to the harbor, but it will also benefit the Indian Shipbuilding Industry, as the majority of the equipment is being used by indigenous manufacturers, and boost the ‘Make in India’ initiative.
