Indian Navy Inducts Its First Indigenous Diving Support Vessel, Nistar — A Major Boost to Underwater Operations

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In a significant boost to India’s maritime capabilities and indigenization drive, the Indian Navy on Tuesday proudly inducted its first-ever indigenously designed and built Diving Support Vessel (DSV), named Nistar.

The formal handing-over ceremony was held at Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL) in Visakhapatnam, marking a historic milestone in India’s journey toward self-reliance in defense shipbuilding.
#IndianNavy #Nistar #Visakhapatnam #IndigenousDefence

The vessel, designed and constructed entirely within India, has been developed in full compliance with the classification regulations set by the Indian Register of Shipping (IRS), ensuring its design meets world-class naval engineering and safety standards.
#MakeInIndia #AatmanirbharBharat #HindustanShipyard

Advanced Design with Specialized Underwater Capability

The DSV Nistar is a highly specialized naval platform designed to conduct deep-sea diving, submarine rescue, and underwater salvage operations.

With capabilities on par with leading global navies, this addition positions India among a select group of nations with sophisticated underwater rescue infrastructure.
#DeepSeaOperations #UnderwaterRescue #StrategicAssets

The name “Nistar“, derived from Sanskrit, symbolizes liberation, rescue, and salvation, perfectly reflecting the ship’s life-saving role in underwater missions and emergencies.
#Sanskrit #Nomenclature #NavalTradition

 

Stretching 118 meters in length and displacing close to 10,000 tons, Nistar is a formidable vessel built to operate in challenging conditions. Its robust size allows it to remain stable and effective even during complex underwater tasks in rough seas.

 

Cutting-Edge Diving and Rescue Technology

Nistar is equipped with some of the most advanced diving systems in the Indian Navy’s arsenal. It can conduct saturation diving operations up to a depth of 300 meters, allowing specially trained divers to work at extreme depths for extended durations. This is made possible through pressurized environments and onboard decompression systems.
#SaturationDiving #UnderwaterEngineering

 

The ship also features a side-mounted diving stage, enabling medium-depth diving missions up to 75 meters. This dual capability makes it suitable for a wide range of underwater operations, from infrastructure inspection and maintenance to salvage and search efforts.

Critical Role as Mother Ship for DSRV

 

 

A key role of Nistar will be to function as the “Mother Ship” for the Deep Submergence Rescue Vessel (DSRV). In the event of a submarine emergency, the DSRV can be deployed to reach a disabled submarine, dock with it, and rescue the trapped crew members.

Nistar will provide vital support, acting as the launch and recovery platform for the DSRV.
#DSRV #SubmarineRescue #NavalSafety

The vessel is also outfitted with advanced Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) capable of operating up to 1000 meters below sea level.

 

These ROVs are essential for conducting diver surveillance, underwater reconnaissance, equipment deployment, and high-risk recovery operations in zones where human access is either impossible or unsafe.

#ROV #TechInNavy #UnderwaterRobotics

Indigenous Manufacturing: A Leap Toward Self-Reliance

What makes the induction of Nistar even more significant is its approximately 75% indigenous content, showcasing India’s growing confidence and capability in building complex warships with minimal foreign dependence.

 

 

From its steel and structure to onboard systems, diving modules, and command interfaces, a large majority of the components were sourced, built, and integrated within the country.
#DefenceManufacturing #AatmanirbharNavy #MadeInIndia

 

This achievement not only supports the Indian Navy’s operational goals but also aligns with the national mission of building a self-reliant defence ecosystem through the #AatmanirbharBharat initiative and the Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) 2020.
#Indigenisation #StrategicAutonomy #NavalInnovation

 

 

A Strategic and Symbolic Victory

 

 

The commissioning of Nistar signifies more than just an addition to the fleet—it represents a strategic victory in India’s pursuit of maritime dominance in the Indo-Pacific and Indian Ocean Region (IOR). As underwater threats evolve and regional security dynamics shift, having such specialized vessels ensures the Indian Navy can respond with speed, precision, and confidence.

 

 #Nistar is not only a technological marvel but also a symbol of India’s naval self-sufficiency, enhanced maritime security, and engineering excellence. It is poised to play a pivotal role in future underwater operations, safeguarding lives and strengthening India’s oceanic influence.