Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday launched the Indian Navy’s first indigenous Fleet Support Ship (FSS-1) at Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL) in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, ETV Bharat reported. This event marks a significant milestone in indigenous defence production.
According to ETV Bharat, Rajnath Singh also laid the keel of the fifth Fleet Support Ship, FSS-5. Additionally, he inaugurated the shipyard’s upgraded Slipway-4 and a 300-tonne Goliath Crane.
The Defence Minister arrived in Visakhapatnam on Monday. ETV Bharat reported that he was accorded a grand welcome by MP Sribharat and Gajuwaka MLA Palla Srinivas at INS Dega.
The upgraded slipway, with its extended length and enhanced load-bearing capacity, supported by the crane, will enable the shipyard to build and launch vessels of up to 45,000 deadweight tonnes (DWT), ETV Bharat stated.
These new facilities will significantly expand the shipyard's capacity to construct large and complex platforms, ETV Bharat reported.
This development is significant for readers in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana as it represents a substantial advancement in domestic defence manufacturing. The expansion of these facilities in Visakhapatnam also fosters employment opportunities and economic growth in the region.
