The Indian Navy’s first Fleet Support Ship was launched in Visakhapatnam on October 6. Here is what these vessels do and why they matter.

Fleet Support Ships are large replenishment vessels that refuel and resupply warships while they are at sea. They carry fuel, water, ammunition, food and spare parts, transferring them to combat ships without those ships returning to port.

This extends how long a naval task force can stay deployed. For a navy operating across the vast Indian Ocean Region, that endurance is critical for sustained missions far from home ports.

India is building five such ships at Hindustan Shipyard. Each displaces 43,500 tonnes, making them among the largest vessels constructed in India. The first ship was built with 82 per cent Indian content.

The keel of the fifth ship was laid on the same day as the first ship’s launch, signalling series production. Alongside, the shipyard’s upgraded slipway and a new 300-tonne crane now allow it to build vessels of up to 45,000 deadweight tonnes.