New Delhi/Visakhapatnam: Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL), a premier Defence PSU under the Ministry of Defence, has achieved two significant milestones within just 24 hours, reinforcing its growing stature in India's strategic shipbuilding sector.
On July 8, HSL delivered the advanced DP-II Diving Support Vessel Nistar to the Indian Navy. The next day, on July 9, the keel of Fleet Support Ship-3 (FSS-3) was ceremonially laid at L&T Shipyard, Kattupalli by Vice Admiral Rajaram Swaminathan (AVSM, VSM) Chief of Materiel (CWP&A), in the presence of Commodore Hemant Khatri (Retd), Chairman and Managing Director of HSL, and senior officials from the Indian Navy, HSL, and L&T.
The keel laying of FSS-3 marks another major step in the construction of the 43,000-tonne Fleet Support Ships (FSS) programme awarded to HSL. Two of the five ships are being built in collaboration with L&T, showcasing a successful model of public-private partnership in India's defence manufacturing. The series has progressed swiftly — all five ships have entered different stages of construction within just two years of contract signing, underlining HSL’s improved project execution capacity and seamless coordination across multiple sites.
The steel cutting of the fourth FSS was also recently performed by the Chief of Naval Staff on June 19, at HSL, signaling the project's rapid momentum.
From constructing small auxiliary vessels to delivering high-tech platforms like INS Dhruv and Nistar, HSL has demonstrated a transformational leap in technological capabilities and engineering precision. Backed by upgraded infrastructure including a 300-tonne Goliath crane and a refurbished slipway, HSL is now well-positioned to take on future naval projects such as Landing Platform Docks (LPDs) and next-generation vessels.
These projects not only strengthen India’s naval fleet but also align with the Government of India’s flagship initiatives — ‘Make in India’ and ‘Make for the World’.
HSL CMD expressed gratitude to the Indian Navy for its continued trust and to L&T shipyard for their collaboration. He emphasized that HSL is rising confidently, overcoming challenges, and setting new benchmarks in India’s shipbuilding journey.
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