CNS initiates steel cutting of 4th Fleet Support Ship at HSL

New Delhi/Visakhapatnam: In a major stride towards strengthening India’s maritime capabilities and indigenous defence production, Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL) marked a significant milestone with the ceremonial steel cutting of the fourth Fleet Support Ship (FSS) for the Indian Navy. The event, held on June 19, was initiated by Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, PVSM, AVSM, NM, Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS).

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Speaking at the ceremony, Admiral Tripathi commended HSL's progress on the prestigious FSS project and emphasised that the addition of these ships would substantially enhance the Indian Navy’s operational endurance and reach at sea. Reaffirming the Navy’s commitment to self-reliance and indigenous defence capability, he underlined the importance of the FSS in the context of the Prime Minister’s SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) vision.

He also reiterated the Navy's resolve to remain combat-ready and future-focused amid evolving maritime security challenges.

Cmde Hemant Khatri (Retd), Chairman & Managing Director of HSL, underlined the transformational journey of the shipyard in recent years. “HSL’s progress is not merely about achieving financial turnaround—from decades of negative net worth to Mini Ratna status—but about evolving from building small tugs to delivering sophisticated strategic platforms like INS Dhruv and Nistar,” he said. “This evolution reflects HSL’s capability to execute complex and large-scale defence projects with confidence.”

The fourth FSS is being constructed on HSL’s upgraded slipway, which now houses a 300-tonne Goliath crane—further reinforcing the shipyard’s infrastructure to take on future high-end projects such as Landing Platform Docks (LPDs). The upgraded facilities and the growing expertise at HSL position it as a key contributor to the goals of Aatmanirbhar Bharat and the larger vision of 'Make for the World'.

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