HSL docks Navy’s largest amphibious warship INS Jalashwa for major refit

Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL) has docked the Indian Navy’s largest amphibious warship, INS Jalashwa, into its premier building dock here.

It is the first time in HSL’s history that such a massive military platform has been accommodated for dry-docking, signalling a major leap forward for indigenous ship maintenance capabilities on the country’s eastern seaboard.

INS Jalashwa, an Austin-class amphibious transport dock acquired from the U.S.A., measures approximately 175 metres in length and over 28 metres in width. The warship played a major humanitarian role during Operation Samudra Setu launched by the Indian Navy in May 2020. Alongside other vessels, INS Jalashwa was deployed to successfully repatriate hundreds of stranded Indian citizens from foreign shores during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Comprehensive docking analyses were performed beforehand, factoring in the ship’s precise weight distribution, hull geometry, and specialised structural nuances. Safety standards and clearance parameters were strictly monitored to ensure the vessel was securely guided into the dock.

With the warship now safely secured inside the facility, HSL is undertaking a comprehensive package of complex structural repairs, overhauls, and modernisation works.

While specific financial figures for individual operational refits are classified, high-value defence undertakings at the yard—such as the Ministry of Defence’s ₹934-crore contract for the normal refit of INS Sindhukirti submarine or the massive ₹19,000-crore project for indigenous Fleet Support Ships (FSS)—reflect the heavy-duty financial and technical scale at which the Miniratna shipyard operates.

Previously, heavy amphibious platforms requiring extensive dry-docking support often faced logistical constraints, occasionally needing transit to distant alternative facilities.

Having such robust repair and maintenance infrastructure readily available at HSL significantly cuts down turnaround times, ensuring that critical fleet assets remain combat-ready and operational with minimal downtime.

“This achievement demonstrates HSL’s evolving technical capability to handle outsized naval assets, transforming the shipyard into a formidable hub for heavy warship maintenance and commercial shipbuilding alike,” an HSL official said.

The shipyard features robust infrastructure, including a covered building dock designed to accommodate vessels up to 80,000 Dead weight Tonnage (DWT).

Its facilities have handled diverse maritime traffic, ranging from bulk carriers and offshore patrol vessels to major submarine overhauls. Industry experts note that with the successful docking of INS Jalashwa, HSL is strongly positioned to undertake future complex projects for the Indian Navy, including upcoming multi-role support vessels and heavy carrier maintenance initiatives.

“It is the first such large vessel in HSL refitting. We don’t disclose the price of refitting and the date of release or completion. It is confidential,” an official spokesperson told The Hindu.