India Needs Strong Maritime Ecosystem to Boost Defence Power: Rajnath Singh

Visakhapatnam: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has called for closer coordination among the Indian Navy, shipyards, DRDO, industry, MSMEs, start-ups and academia to build a strong and self-reliant maritime ecosystem.
Speaking at Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL), Visakhapatnam, Singh launched the first Fleet Support Ship, ‘Surya’, laid the keel for Fleet Support Ship-5 and inaugurated an upgraded Slipway-4 along with a 300-tonne Goliath Crane.
He said Surya will enhance the Navy’s operational reach, endurance and effectiveness, while the upgraded infrastructure will enable HSL to undertake larger and more complex shipbuilding projects.
Singh highlighted the Navy’s role as a first responder and security partner in the Indian Ocean Region, including humanitarian missions, disaster relief, anti-piracy operations, evacuations and maritime security.

He said HSL’s Miniratna Category-I status, granted in 2025, reflects its improved performance and financial strength. Stressing India’s shipbuilding potential, he called for faster delivery, indigenous designs, skilled manpower, stronger supply chains, higher productivity, expanded capacity and competitive costs.
Singh said India’s defence sector has increasingly shifted from import dependence towards domestic design and manufacturing, supporting the country’s goal of becoming a developed, self-reliant and secure nation by 2047.