Vice Admiral Rajesh Pendharkar, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command, visited Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL) on Thursday to assess the progress of key naval shipbuilding and refit projects. The visit underscored the strong partnership between the Navy and the shipyard in advancing India’s maritime self-reliance goals.
Vice Admiral Pendharkar was received by Commodore Girideep Singh, Chairman and Managing Director of HSL, and senior officials who briefed him on major projects currently underway. Discussions covered the construction of Fleet Support Ships (FSS) for the Indian Navy, ongoing submarine and ship refits, and infrastructure modernisation efforts aimed at expanding the shipyard’s capacity.
The Vice Admiral praised HSL’s transformation in recent years, noting that its enhanced production systems and improved project delivery timelines reflect a growing alignment with the Navy’s operational and logistical requirements. He also acknowledged the shipyard’s contribution to the AatmaNirbhar Bharat initiative through indigenisation of key technologies and greater reliance on Indian suppliers and MSMEs.
According to officials, HSL is executing a series of modernisation programmes to boost its technical efficiency and capability. This includes automation in fabrication lines, enhanced dry dock facilities, and digital tools for design and workflow management. These upgrades are designed to support the production of large, complex platforms such as the Fleet Support Ships each displacing over 40,000 tonnes and capable of replenishing frontline warships at sea.
The Fleet Support Ship project is one of the largest defence shipbuilding orders awarded to a domestic shipyard and represents a major step toward reducing India’s dependence on foreign designs and builders. Once inducted, the vessels will provide critical logistic and operational support to the Navy, allowing it to sustain prolonged missions across the Indian Ocean region.
During his interaction with HSL personnel, Vice Admiral Pendharkar emphasised the importance of close coordination between the shipyard and the Eastern Naval Command to maintain fleet readiness and ensure timely completion of critical refits. He also expressed confidence in HSL’s ability to take on more technologically advanced projects in the coming years as part of India’s broader maritime capability expansion.
Hindustan Shipyard Limited, established in 1941, is India’s oldest shipbuilding enterprise and has played a pivotal role in both commercial and defence shipbuilding. Over the decades, it has delivered numerous vessels, including fleet tankers, offshore patrol vessels, and submarine refits. Today, it serves as a key industrial partner for the Indian Navy’s long-term maritime capability plans.
The Eastern Naval Command, based in Visakhapatnam, is the Navy’s largest operational command and a central pillar of India’s maritime defence posture in the Bay of Bengal and beyond. Its collaboration with HSL continues to be vital for ensuring the availability, sustainability, and modernisation of naval assets deployed on the eastern seaboard.
Vice Admiral Pendharkar’s visit reaffirmed the Navy’s continued engagement with Hindustan Shipyard Limited as an essential partner in strengthening India’s indigenous shipbuilding ecosystem and maritime preparedness.
(Aritra Banerjee is a Defence, Foreign Affairs & Aerospace Journalist and co-author of The Indian Navy @75: Reminiscing the Voyage. Having spent his formative years in the United States before returning to India, he combines a global outlook with on-the-ground insight in his reporting. He holds a Master’s in International Relations, Security & Strategy from O.P. Jindal Global University, a Bachelor’s in Mass Media from the University of Mumbai, and Professional Education in Strategic Communications from King’s College London (War Studies). With experience across television, print, and digital media.)
