Indian Navy steel cutting ceremony for final Fleet Support Ship held at Vizag
VISAKHAPATNAM, May 9, 2026 — The steel cutting ceremony for the fifth and final vessel in the Fleet Support Ship series was held at Hindustan Shipyard Limited on May 8.
Vice Admiral Sanjay Sadhu, the Controller of Warship Production and Acquisition, attended the event as the chief guest alongside senior officials from the Indian Navy and the shipyard.
These massive vessels, each displacing more than 40,000 tons, are designed as multi-utility fleet tankers intended to significantly bolster blue water capabilities by extending the strategic reach and mobility of the fleet at sea.
Beyond their primary role of refueling and replenishing the fleet, these ships are being equipped to handle secondary missions such as Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief and Non-Combatant Evacuation Operations.
This versatility allows for the rapid delivery of relief materials and the safe evacuation of personnel during emergencies. The project represents a significant milestone for domestic manufacturing, featuring a completely indigenous design and a majority of components sourced from Indian suppliers.
As a major contributor to the government’s self-reliance initiatives, the Fleet Support Ship program is expected to provide a substantial boost to the national shipbuilding ecosystem. By focusing on local production and design, the project aligns with broader efforts to position the country as a hub for maritime manufacturing.
The completion of this final ship’s steel cutting marks a steady progression toward enhancing the long-range operational efficiency of the naval forces.