HSL-class fleet support ship explained

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Ship Image:File:HSL-class fleet support ship.jpg
Ship Caption:Render of HSL-class fleet support ship
Builders:
Total Ships Building:1
Total Ships Planned:5
Ship Type:Fleet replenishment oiler
Ship Displacement:45000t
Ship Length:230m (760feet)
Ship Speed:20kn
Ship Range:
  • 12000nmi at 15-
Ship Armament:Anti-ship, Anti-submarine, CIWS
Ship Aircraft:1 × HAL Dhruv
Ship Aircraft Facilities:Helipad
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 45000tonne, these will be the heaviest and the second largest vessels to be in operation in the Indian Navy fleets before 2030.[1] [3]

History

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

The Government of India cleared the project for a cost of 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 . 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 keel for the first ship Yard-11200 was laid on 14 November 2024 at Hindustan Shipyard.[19]

Design

The ships will have a displacement of 45000lk=onNaNlk=on and a length of 230m (760feet). They will have a cruising speed of 15knot with a maximum speed of and an operating range of 12000nmi at a speed of 14-. 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.[20]

Ships of the class

Name PennantYard NoBuildersLaid downLaunchedCommissionedHome-portStatus
TBD11200Hindustan Shipyard
Larsen and Toubro		14 November 2024 Under construction
11201Planned
11202
11203
11204

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Hindustan Shipyard to build 5 naval support vessels with Turkish help. Hindustan Times. 2021-02-22. 2021-05-17. Singh. Rahul.
  2. Web site: Defence ministry, Hindustan Shipyard Ltd ink Rs 19,000 crore deal for 5 fleet support ships. The Print. Smruti. Deshpande. 2023-08-25.
  3. Web site: HSL Annual Report 2019-20. Hindustan Shipyard Limited. 2021-05-17.
  4. Web site: HSL ties up with Turkish firm to build Fleet Support Ships. The Hindu. Santosh. Patnaik. 2020-06-23. 2021-05-17.
  5. News: Defence projects worth Rs. 21,000 crore cleared . The Hindu . Press Trust of India . 19 July 2014 . en-IN.
  6. News: HSL to build 5 Navy fleet support ships from 2017 . The Times of India . 9 April 2016 . en.
  7. Web site: Explainer: Turkey turning 'supplier' for navies of India, Pakistan?. The Week. 2021-02-24. 2021-05-17.
  8. Web site: India to go ahead with $2.3 billion Turkish shipyard deal. Economic Times. 2020-03-23. 2021-05-17. Mannu. Pubby.
  9. Web site: Indian MoD signed a contract with Turkey's TAIS shipyards for 5 Fleet Support Vessels. Naval News. 2020-05-06. Martin. Manaranche.
  10. Web site: ANI . 2024-04-11 . No role for Turkish firms in Indian Navy's mega Fleet Support Ship project . 2024-04-12 . ThePrint . en-US.
  11. Web site: 11 April 2024 . No role for Turkish firms in Indian Navy's mega Fleet Support Ship project . ANI.
  12. Web site: 2024-12-03 . Kongsberg Maritime RAS technology on Indian Navy FSS vessels . 2024-12-04 . www.kongsberg.com . en.
  13. Web site: Staff . Naval News . 2024-12-03 . Kongsberg to supply RAS technology for Indian Navy's new Fleet Support Ships . 2024-12-04 . Naval News . en-US.
  14. News: Govt clears Rs 20,000 cr Navy projects to be built by Hindustan Shipyard. Business Standard. 2023-08-16.
  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. 2023-08-25.
  16. Web site: Defence Secretary presides over first steel cutting of Fleet Support Ships for Indian Navy at Hindustan Shipyard Ltd in Visakhapatnam . 2024-04-10 . pib.gov.in.
  17. Web site: STEEL CUTTING OF FIRST FLEET SUPPORT SHIP FOR INDIAN NAVY AT HINDUSTAN SHIPYARD LIMITED, VISAKHAPATNAM . 2024-04-10 . pib.gov.in.
  18. Web site: 2024-07-09 . Larsen & Toubro wins order from Hindustan Shipyard . 2024-07-09 . Business Standard.
  19. KEEL LAYING OF FIRST FLEET SUPPORT SHIP FOR INDIAN NAVY AT HINDUSTAN SHIPYARD LIMITED, VISAKHAPATNAM. PIB. 2024-11-14.
  20. Web site: 2018. Technology Perspective and Capability Roadmap (TPCR) - 2018. 7. Ministry of Defence. 2021-03-14.

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