Raksha Mantri launches first indigenous Fleet Support Ship ‘ Surya’ at Hindustan Shipyard Ltd in Visakhapatnam

The Raksha Mantri launched the first indigenous Fleet Support Ship (FSS-1) named ‘Surya’, laid the keel for the fifth Fleet Support Ship (FSS-5), and inaugurated upgraded shipyard infrastructure including Slipway-4 and a 300-tonne Goliath Crane at Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL) in Visakhapatnam. The Fleet Support Ships are designed to enhance the Indian Navy’s reach, operational endurance, and at-sea logistics capabilities in the Indian Ocean Region. The newly upgraded infrastructure allows HSL to build ships up to 45,000 DWT and supports modern block construction techniques. Officials emphasized advancing indigenous maritime manufacturing, building a comprehensive domestic shipbuilding ecosystem involving MSMEs and startups, and transforming Visakhapatnam into a major maritime industrial hub.