The Indian Navy is getting its first fleet support ship. Here is what these giant vessels do and why they matter.

A fleet support ship is a floating supply station. It carries fuel, food, water, ammunition and spare parts. It transfers them to warships while both are at sea.

This lets warships stay on patrol for weeks or months without returning to port. It extends a navy’s reach far from home waters.

India’s first such ship, FSS-1, weighs 43,500 tonnes. It is being built at Hindustan Shipyard in Visakhapatnam. The Navy plans five of them.

The ship will enter the water just 18 months after steel cutting began. That is a fast build for a vessel this size.

Along with the launch, the shipyard is getting an upgraded slipway and a 300-tonne crane. These will let India build ships of up to 45,000 tonnes at home.

For India, the ships support longer deployments across the Indian Ocean. They reduce dependence on foreign ports and foreign-built supply ships.