**Summary of Steel Cutting Ceremony for the Fifth Fleet Support Ship**
On May 8, 2026, the Ministry of Defence conducted the "Steel Cutting" ceremony for the fifth and final Fleet Support Ship (FSS) at Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL) in Visakhapatnam. The event was attended by Chief Guest VAdm Sanjay Sadhu, Controller of Warship Production & Acquisition, along with the CMD of HSL and senior officials from the Indian Navy.
**Project Overview and Timeline**
The ceremony marks a significant milestone in the contract signed between the Indian Navy and HSL in August 2023 for the acquisition of five FSS. Deliveries for the fleet are scheduled to commence in mid-2027.
**Technical Specifications and Capabilities**
* **Displacement:** Each ship features a displacement of more than 40,000 Tons.
* **Primary Role:** The vessels will provide replenishment of fuel, water, ammunition, and stores to ships at sea. This is intended to bolster the Indian Navy’s "Blue Water" capabilities, enhancing strategic reach and mobility during prolonged deployments.
* **Secondary Role:** The ships are designed to support Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations and Non-Combatant Evacuation Operations (NEO).
**Strategic and Industrial Impact**
The FSS project utilizes a completely indigenous design and sources the majority of its equipment from domestic manufacturers. This initiative aligns with the Government of India’s *Aatmanirbhar Bharat*, *Make in India*, and *Make for the World* policies, providing a significant boost to the Indian shipbuilding industry.
**Reference Information**
* **Location:** HSL, Visakhapatnam
* **Release ID:** 2259193
* **Date Posted:** 08 May 2026, 7:59 PM (PIB Delhi)
* **Reference Code:** VM/SPS 92/26
Key Entities Referenced
Fleet Support Ships (FSS): A project for the acquisition and indigenous construction of five 40,000-ton vessels designed to bolster the Indian Navy's blue-water capabilities and strategic reach.
Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL), Visakhapatnam: The shipyard responsible for the indigenous design and construction of the Fleet Support Ships for the Indian Navy.
Indian Navy: The primary end-user and contracting entity for the acquisition of five Fleet Support Ships to enhance replenishment-at-sea and HADR capabilities.
Ministry of Defence: The governing ministry overseeing the shipbuilding contract and the ceremony for the final ship in the FSS series.
Aatmanirbhar Bharat: The national initiative promoting indigenous manufacturing and self-reliance, under which the FSS project was designed and sourced.
Ministry of Defence
STEEL CUTTING OF FIFTH FLEET SUPPORT
SHIP FOR INDIAN NAVY
Posted On: 08 MAY 2026 7:59PM by PIB Delhi
‘Steel Cutting’ Ceremony of 5th and the last of the five Fleet Support Ships (FSS) was held at
Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL), Visakhapatnam on 08 May 2026, in presence of VAdm Sanjay
Sadhu, Controller of Warship Production & Acquisition as the Chief Guest. CMD, HSL and other senior
officials from Indian Navy and HSL were present for the occasion.
The Indian Navy had signed a contract with HSL for acquisition of five Fleet Support Ships (FSS) in
Aug 2023, with delivery commencing mid-2027.
On induction, the FSS will bolster the Blue Water capabilities of the Indian Navy through replenishment
of Fleet ships at sea. The ships, with a displacement of more than 40,000 Tons, will deliver fuel, water,
ammunition and stores enabling prolonged deployments of the Fleet ships, thereby enhancing the
Fleet’s strategic reach and mobility. In their secondary role, these ships would be equipped for
Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations and Non-Combatant Evacuation
Operations (NEO) for expeditious delivery of relief material and evacuation of personnel.
With a completely indigenous design and sourcing of majority of the equipment from indigenous
manufacturers, the FSS project will boost the Indian Shipbuilding Industry in consonance with GoI
initiatives of Aatmanirbhar Bharat, Make in India, and Make for the World._____________________________________________________________
VM/SPS 92/26
(Release ID: 2259193) Visitor Counter : 299
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