HSL marks 85 years in the Navy’s Fourth Fleet Support Ship, Infrastructure Improvement and Turnover Success Race
Hindustan Shipyards Ltd. (HSL) commemorates its 85th Sapphire Foundation Day, a week-long series of events, held on June 21 on June 21, which included important milestones, including the Steel ceremony of Naval Secretary Dinesh K Tripathi on June 19, for the Indian Navy’s four-man Fleet Support (FSS) (FSS) on June 19.
The Admiral delivered a speech at the steel ceremony, highlighting the strategic importance of the fleet’s support ships, emphasizing that it would enhance the navy’s endurance and combat readiness at sea.
The project is closely aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Maha Sagar (Safety and Growth for All People in the Region), thus promoting greater maritime security through indigenous capacity.
The HSL’s Foundation Day celebrations are marked by vibrant events and infrastructure upgrades, including a tribute to shipyard founder Seth Walchand Hirachand; a yoga class that promotes employee health; and an MSME conference encourages speeds that are easy to operate.
HSL has also unveiled upgraded facilities such as new Valve Test Bay, digital information kiosk, renovated restaurant, power room, modern residential area, training hall and newly established motivation hall. In addition, the shipyard has released 12 major publications aimed at simplifying operations and enhancing knowledge-based practices.
Reflecting on the huge transformation of the shipyard, Chairman and Managing Director Commodore Hemant Khatri highlighted HSL’s journey from a serious financial hardship, with net assets falling to Rs 1,023 crore in fiscal 2014-15 to achieve profitability and stability.
“Our turnover is not just a financial turnover, it’s about our evolution from building simple tugs to complex strategic platforms like Ins Dhruv and Ins Nistar. This advancement stems from professional competence and cultural shifts from ‘Me, I and myself to ‘we, us, us and HSL’,” Khatri said.
The new fleet support vessel will leverage the HSL upgraded Slipway infrastructure, which is now equipped with a powerful 300-ton Giant crane, greatly improving the shipyard’s preparation for future complex projects, including Landing Platform Docks (LPDS) and large commercial vessels.
These developments highlight the key role of HSL in India’s “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” initiative, as shipyards increasingly place their position as a key player in the creation of shipbuilding “strategy for the world”.
The presence of Naval Chief of Staff Dinesh K Tripathi in the steel cutting activities is noteworthy, highlighting the extraordinary trust of the Indian Navy in the leadership of the Hindustan shipyard, advanced technical capabilities and an outstanding growth journey.
