The Steel Cutting Ceremony for the third of the five Fleet Support Ships (FSS) was held on 20th February 2025 at L&T Shipyard, Kattupalli, in the presence of Rear Admiral Satish Shenai, Flag Officer Commanding Tamil Nadu and Puducherry Naval Area, along with senior officials from the Indian Navy, Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL), and L&T.

The Indian Navy had signed a contract with HSL in August 2023 for the acquisition of five Fleet Support Ships, with deliveries set to commence from mid-2027. In a significant demonstration of Public-Private Partnership, HSL has outsourced part of the construction of two FSS vessels to L&T Shipyard, Kattupalli, to maximise India’s shipbuilding capacity and meet strict delivery timelines.