Indian Register of Shipping (IRS), a leading classification society, is pleased to announce that it will provide classification services for a series of five modern Fleet Support Ships (FSS) for the Indian Navy. The ships will be built by the Hindustan Shipyard Limited, (HSL) at Visakhapatnam and are expected to be delivered in about eight years. In addition to classification services, IRS will also be certifying ‘Compliance with Build Specification’, as well as verification of compliance against applicable codes & conventions and several Technical Studies required as per Build specification.

The first of their type to be built in India, the vessels will be built to IRS Naval Rules. They are among the largest vessels constructed in India in recent times, be it for defence or merchant fleet with each ship displacing around 45,000 GT.

A collaborative effort between HSL and several Indian industries, the project will increase employment and result in marked progress towards the Government of India’s goal of ‘Aatma Nirbhar Bharat’ or ‘Self-Reliant India’, besides greatly augmenting the Indian Navy’s capabilities for securing India’s maritime interests.

Mr Arun Sharma, Executive Chairman, Indian Register of Shipping, said: “The FSS project is a significant milestone in India’s maritime progress. It is an honour for IRS to partner with HSL and the Indian Navy by providing classification and ‘beyond class’ services for the fleet support ships, which will notably enhance the Indian Navy’s capabilities. This synergetic partnership demonstrates our nation’s commitment to self-reliance and technological advancement in the defence sector.”