The Indian Navy will commission the Diving Support Vessel (DSV) ‘Nistar’ at the Naval Dockyard in Visakhapatnam on July 18. The event will be attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, marking the official induction of the ship. ‘Nistar’ has been designed and built domestically by Hindustan Shipyard Limited in Visakhapatnam. The vessel will be deployed with the Eastern Naval Command to assist with deep-sea diving and submarine rescue operations.
The construction of ‘Nistar’ highlights the Indian government’s commitment to indigenous defense production and ‘Aatmanirbharta’. The project involved 120 MSMEs, with over 80% of the content sourced domestically. This project is a step toward realizing the Indian Navy’s goal of building advanced indigenous platforms. The ship’s motto, ‘Surakshita Yatharthta Shauryam,’ which translates to ‘Deliverance with Precision and Bravery,’ reflects its primary functions. The DSV is approximately 120 meters long and displaces more than 10,000 tons, using a Dynamic Positioning System for precise positioning.
‘Nistar’ features a comprehensive diving complex with both Air and Saturation Diving Systems, along with underwater Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) and Side Scan SONAR, broadening its operational capabilities. As the ‘Mother Ship’ for the Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle (DRV), the vessel will substantially improve the Indian Navy’s preparedness for submarine rescue missions. The ship also features an Operating Theatre, Intensive Care Unit, an eight-bed Hospital, and Hyperbaric Medical Facilities. With the ability to stay at sea for more than 60 days, to support helicopter operations, and a 15-ton subsea crane, the ship is a highly adaptable platform.
The commissioning of ‘Nistar’ will boost India’s underwater operational readiness and support its strategic presence in the Indian Ocean Region. The ship embodies its diving and submarine rescue roles.