Fleet support ship building will be game-changer for HSL

Visakhapatnam: The indication that the order for construction of five fleet support ships by the Ministry of Defence will come as a big fillip for Visakhapatnam-headquartered Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL).

The premier shipbuilding yard set up in 1941 is expecting that the order will be in the range of Rs 20,000 crore to Rs 22,000 crore. Sources said the yard is fully geared up to take up the construction of high-value order.

Fleet support ships are needed to replenish fuel, provisions and other supplies into the vessels of the Indian Navy. This will be the first order for HSL, which is brought under control of Ministry of Defence from the Ministry of Shipping from February, 2010 in recognition of its strategic importance, for construction of fleet support ships.

At present, the shipyard is meeting its requirement from constructing tugs, deep diving vessels, retrofitting and refitting of submarines. The main handicap for the yard is with regard to legacy issues, which it is finding it difficult to settle. The dues are being cleared in installments while meeting the overhead costs and salary and other commitments.

A few days after his visit to the shipyard, Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatti stated in Parliament in response to a question by YSRCP MP V Vijayasai Reddy that the proposal for acquisition of five fleet support vessels is in advanced stage of consideration.

HSL has already signed an agreement with a Turkish shipyard for collaboration to take up design and construction of fleet support vessels, HSL has entered into a collaborator contract as per extant procurement procedures. Presently, the case is at an advanced stage of negotiations, Bhatt told Vijayasai Reddy in Rajya Sabha recently.

HSL management has already prepared a vision to transform the yard into a Maharatna by 2041 when it will enter its centenary year of establishment.