The keel laying ceremony of the third Fleet Support Ship (FSS) was held at Larsen & Toubro’s (L&T) Shipyard in Kattupalli, Chennai, on Wednesday.

The Indian Navy said the event was attended by Vice Admiral Rajaram Swaminathan, Controller of Warship Production and Acquisition, along with senior officials from the Indian Navy, Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL), and L&T.

The Navy had signed a contract with HSL in August 2023 for the acquisition of five FSS vessels, with deliveries scheduled to commence from mid-2027. Under a public-private partnership model, HSL has sub-contracted the construction of two ships to L&T Shipyard in order to leverage the country’s shipbuilding capacity and adhere to tight delivery timelines, the Navy stated.

On induction, the FSS vessels — each with a displacement exceeding 40,000 tonnes — will augment the Indian Navy’s blue water capabilities by facilitating the replenishment of fleet ships at sea. These ships will carry fuel, water, ammunition, and stores to enable extended and sustained naval operations, enhancing reach and mobility.

In a secondary role, the Navy added that the FSS vessels will also be equipped to undertake Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief operations, including the evacuation of personnel and swift delivery of relief material during natural disasters.

The Navy further said that the indigenously designed and constructed warship will be outfitted with equipment sourced from Indian original equipment manufacturers.