Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi, August 25: With Hindustan Shipyard Ltd (HSL), the defence ministry signed a contract worth Rs 19,000 crore on Friday for the purchase of five fleet support ships for the Indian Navy.
The ships in the category of 44,000 tonnes will be the first of their sort to be built in India by an Indian shipyard, officials stated.
The project, according to the ministry, will significantly advance efforts to achieve self-reliance in the defence manufacturing sector because the ships will be designed and built domestically by HSL, Visakhapatnam.
“The Ministry of Defence on August 25 signed a contract with HSL, Visakhapatnam for acquisition of five fleet support ships (FSS) for the Indian Navy at an overall cost of approximately Rs 19,000 crore,” it said.
The Cabinet Committee on Security gave its approval for the purchase of the ships during its meeting on August 16.
The fleet support ships will be used to supply fuel, water, ammunition and supplies to ships at sea, allowing the Indian Naval fleet to operate for extended periods of time without returning to port.
“These ships would enhance the strategic reach and mobility of the fleet. The induction of these ships will significantly enhance the blue water capability of the Indian Navy,” the ministry said in a statement.
The ships can also be used for humanitarian aid, disaster relief efforts and the evacuation of people.
“This project will generate employment of nearly 168.8 lakh man days over a period of eight years,” the ministry said.
