Visakhapatnam: In a significant milestone for India’s indigenous defence manufacturing, Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL) successfully delivered ‘Nistar’, the first indigenously designed and constructed Diving Support Vessel (DSV), to the Indian Navy on July 8, 2025, at Visakhapatnam. The vessel marks a major step forward in strengthening India’s deep-sea diving and submarine rescue capabilities, aligning with the Government of India’s vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat and the Make in India initiative.
Technological Breakthrough in Underwater Rescue
Designed and built under the classification standards of the Indian Register of Shipping (IRS), Nistar is a highly specialized vessel that enhances the Indian Navy’s operational readiness for deep-sea saturation diving and submarine rescue missions—capabilities possessed by only a handful of advanced navies globally.
The name ‘Nistar’, derived from Sanskrit, symbolizes liberation, rescue, and salvation, aptly reflecting the ship’s core mission. With a length of 118 meters and displacement of nearly 10,000 tons, the ship is equipped with:
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Deep Sea Saturation Diving capability up to 300 meters
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Side Diving Stage operations up to 75 meters
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Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) capable of operations and diver monitoring up to 1,000 meters depth
Dedicated Role as Submarine Rescue ‘Mother Ship’
Nistar is specifically designed to serve as the ‘Mother Ship’ for the Indian Navy’s Deep Submergence Rescue Vessel (DSRV). This enables the Indian Navy to conduct emergency rescue and evacuation missions for submariners trapped underwater, ensuring swift and efficient response during submarine accidents or crises.
The integration of advanced remotely operated systems, diver monitoring tools, and underwater salvage mechanisms allows Nistar to perform highly complex operations with enhanced safety, precision, and coordination.
Boost to Indigenous Defence Manufacturing
With approximately 75% indigenous content, Nistar stands as a proud symbol of India’s defence self-reliance. The vessel’s delivery reinforces the Indian Navy’s longstanding commitment to indigenisation in shipbuilding and maritime operations.
This achievement follows the Navy’s strategic direction to reduce dependence on foreign technology by supporting domestic shipyards, engineering firms, and naval design bureaus, thereby contributing significantly to India’s blue economy and maritime defence ecosystem.
Conclusion- INS Nistar :
The induction of INS Nistar into the Indian Navy not only augments the nation’s undersea rescue and diving operations but also underscores India’s engineering prowess and self-reliant defence vision. As the Navy continues its indigenisation journey, vessels like Nistar exemplify the seamless integration of technology, capability, and national pride in India’s maritime domain.
Source: PIB
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