Wikipedia

HSL-class fleet support ship

The HSL-class fleet support vessels are a series of five fleet tanker planned to be built by Hindustan Shipyard (HSL), Visakhapatnam and Larsen & Toubro at Kattupalli Shipyard for the Indian Navy.[1] The deal was signed on 25 August 2023 with an expected project completion timeline of 8 years. These ships will be an indigenous design by the Hindustan Shipyard's in-house design team.[2] The primary role of the vessels would be to replenish ships of the Indian Navy with fuel, food and various other supplies. With a length of 230 m and displacement of 45,000 tonnes (44,000 long tons), these will be the heaviest and the second largest vessels to be in operation in the Indian Navy fleets before 2030.[1][3]

Render of HSL-class fleet support ship
Class overview
Builders
Operators Indian Navy
Preceded byDeepak class
Cost₹19,000 crore (US$2.3 billion)
Planned5
Building2
General characteristics
TypeFleet replenishment oiler
Displacement45,000 t (44,289 long tons)
Length230 m (754 ft 7 in)
Speed20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph)
Range12,000 nmi (22,000 km; 14,000 mi) at 15–16 knots (28–30 km/h; 17–18 mph)
ArmamentAnti-ship, Anti-submarine, CIWS
Aircraft carried1 × HAL Dhruv
Aviation facilitiesHelipad

History

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The fleet support ship project was given a go ahead to augment the existing fleet in 2014. Initially, HSL planned to have a design consultancy with Hyundai Heavy Industries. However, the deal fell off due to latter's insistence of manufacturing the first ship in Korea and disagreement in procurement of major components.[4][5][6]

TAIS, Turkey emerged as lowest bidder for the project after the negotiations fell between HSL and Hyundai Heavy Industries. TAIS defeated other shipbuilding behemoths from Germany, Russia, Spain. However, the deal got stuck due to Turkey's stance on Jammu and Kashmir. Later, Hindustan Shipyard and Indian Navy signed the contract with TAIS, Turkey. The design consultancy will be provided by Anadolu Shipyard with transfer of technology required for the manufacturing of the ship.[7][8][9]

However, after signing the deal on 25 August 2023, it was revealed that the Turkish shipyard was dropped from the deal and now the design and development will be the sole responsibility of Hindustan Shipyard.[2][10] However HSL is taking the assistance of a Kochi-based firm for design consultancy.[11]

Hindustan Shipyard signed a deal with Kongsberg Maritime under which the latter will supply their electric Replenishment-At-Sea (RAS) equipment for the Fleet Support Ships under construction. This technology is reportedly "faster, safer, and more reliable" for supply operations at sea. The system can transfer over 2 tonnes of solid loads as well as liquids like fuel and drinking water.[12][13]

Construction

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The Government of India cleared the project for a cost of ₹20,000 crore (US$2.4 billion) on 16 August 2023.[14] The final contract for the five fleet support ship with Indian Navy and Hindustan Shipyard was signed on 25 August 2023 for a total value of ₹19,000 crore (US$2.3 billion). The first ship will be delivered in 4 years from the date of signing of the contract and subsequent ships will be delivered at 10 – 12 months interval. The total project completion timeline is 8 years.[2][15]

On 10 April 2024, the steel cutting ceremony for the first vessel took place in HSL. HSL is installing a new 300T Goliath crane and slipway upgrades for the construction of these vessels. The delivery of the ships will commence from mid-2027.[16][17]

HSL signed another contract with Larsen & Toubro as a part of which, L&T will manufacture 2 of the Fleet Support Ships at Kattupalli Shipyard under the subsidiary Precision Engineering Systems.[18]

The steel cutting ceremony for the first ship took place on 10 April 2024 at Hindustan Shipyard.[17] The keel for the first ship Yard-11200 was laid on 14 November 2024 at Hindustan Shipyard.[19]

Steel cutting ceremony for the second ship took place on 11 December 2024 at Kattupalli Shipyard as per the sub contract signed earlier.[20][21]

Design

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The ships will have a displacement of 45,000 tonnes (44,289 long tons) and a length of 230 metres (754 ft 7 in). They will have a cruising speed of 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph) with a maximum speed of 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph) and an operating range of 12,000 nautical miles (22,000 km; 14,000 mi) at a speed of 14–15 knots (26–28 km/h; 16–17 mph). The ships will be equipped with state of the art refueling facility and a hangar which can accommodate one HAL Dhruv.[1][3]

These ship will be able to achieve pumping rates up to 2400 TPH. The vessel will also be able to carry ammunition and victualing stores for the fleet. The ship would be equipped with weapons like anti-ship, anti-submarine and CIWS systems.[22]

Ships of the class

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Name Pennant Yard No Builders Laid down Launched Commissioned Home-port Status
  Indian Navy
TBD 11200 Hindustan Shipyard 14 November 2024[19] Under construction
11201 Kattupalli Shipyard (L&T)[21]
11202 Hindustan Shipyard On order
11203 Kattupalli Shipyard (L&T)
11204 Hindustan Shipyard
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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c Singh, Rahul (22 February 2021). "Hindustan Shipyard to build 5 naval support vessels with Turkish help". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  2. ^ a b c Deshpande, Smruti (25 August 2023). "Defence ministry, Hindustan Shipyard Ltd ink Rs 19,000 crore deal for 5 fleet support ships". The Print.
  3. ^ a b "HSL Annual Report 2019-20" (PDF). Hindustan Shipyard Limited. 17 May 2021.
  4. ^ Patnaik, Santosh (23 June 2020). "HSL ties up with Turkish firm to build Fleet Support Ships". The Hindu. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  5. ^ "Defence projects worth Rs. 21,000 crore cleared". The Hindu. Press Trust of India. 19 July 2014.
  6. ^ "HSL to build 5 Navy fleet support ships from 2017". The Times of India. 9 April 2016.
  7. ^ "Explainer: Turkey turning 'supplier' for navies of India, Pakistan?". The Week. 24 February 2021. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  8. ^ Pubby, Mannu (23 March 2020). "India to go ahead with $2.3 billion Turkish shipyard deal". Economic Times. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
  9. ^ Manaranche, Martin (6 May 2020). "Indian MoD signed a contract with Turkey's TAIS shipyards for 5 Fleet Support Vessels". Naval News.
  10. ^ ANI (11 April 2024). "No role for Turkish firms in Indian Navy's mega Fleet Support Ship project". ThePrint. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  11. ^ "No role for Turkish firms in Indian Navy's mega Fleet Support Ship project". ANI. 11 April 2024.
  12. ^ "Kongsberg Maritime RAS technology on Indian Navy FSS vessels". www.kongsberg.com. 3 December 2024. Retrieved 4 December 2024.
  13. ^ Staff, Naval News (3 December 2024). "Kongsberg to supply RAS technology for Indian Navy's new Fleet Support Ships". Naval News. Retrieved 4 December 2024.
  14. ^ "Govt clears Rs 20,000 cr Navy projects to be built by Hindustan Shipyard". Business Standard. 16 August 2023.
  15. ^ "Big boost to 'Aatmanirbharta' in defence: MoD inks Rs 19,000 crore contract with HSL for five Fleet Support Ships for Indian Navy". PIB (Press release). 25 August 2023.
  16. ^ "Defence Secretary presides over first steel cutting of Fleet Support Ships for Indian Navy at Hindustan Shipyard Ltd in Visakhapatnam". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  17. ^ a b "STEEL CUTTING OF FIRST FLEET SUPPORT SHIP FOR INDIAN NAVY AT HINDUSTAN SHIPYARD LIMITED, VISAKHAPATNAM". pib.gov.in. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  18. ^ "Larsen & Toubro wins order from Hindustan Shipyard". Business Standard. 9 July 2024. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  19. ^ a b "KEEL LAYING OF FIRST FLEET SUPPORT SHIP FOR INDIAN NAVY AT HINDUSTAN SHIPYARD LIMITED, VISAKHAPATNAM". PIB (Press release). 14 November 2024.
  20. ^ Staff, Naval News (13 December 2024). "India cuts steel for second Fleet Support Ship". Naval News. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
  21. ^ a b "STEEL CUTTING OF SECOND FLEET SUPPORT SHIP FOR INDIAN NAVY AT KATTUPALLI". Press Information Bureau. 11 December 2024. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
  22. ^ "Technology Perspective and Capability Roadmap (TPCR) - 2018" (PDF). Ministry of Defence. 2018. p. 7. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
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