Indian MoD Cancels Fleet Support Ship Design Contract with Turkish Shipyard

The Indian Ministry of Defense has canceled a design consultancy contract with the Turkish company Anadolu Shipyard (TAİS) for five fleet support ships (FSV) and instead decided to build the ships locally at the Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL).

The first steel-cutting ceremony for the Indian Navy's Fleet Support Ship took place on 10 Apr 2024, at HSL’s facilities in Vishakapatnam. The foundation stone for yard infrastructure augmentation was also laid on the same day, a HSL relese said

HSL chief, Cmde Hemant Khatri underlined the importance of construction of FSS as it provides business to nearly 550 small and medium enterprises in- and- around Visakhapatnam and employment opportunities to over 3000 personnel.

The Fleet Support Ship is first-of-its- kind with a displacement of 44,000 tons and will play a crucial role in replenishing the fleet at sea with fuel, water, ammunition and stores and thereby extending the operational capabilities of the Navy and enhancing it's strategic reach.

Ongoing infrastructure upgrades, including the installation of a cutting-edge 300T Goliath crane and slipway upgrades, will further enhance HSL's capacity to undertake FSS and future projects like the Landing Platform Dock.

HSL had signed a design consultancy contract with TAIS in March 2020. However political tensions between New Delhi and Ankara since then cast doubts over the continuation of the contract.