Indian navy inducts first indigenous diving support vessel ‘Nistar’

New Delhi, Jul 9: In a major boost to India’s maritime capabilities, Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL) delivered ‘Nistar’, the country’s first indigenously designed and constructed Diving Support Vessel (DSV), to the Indian Navy today. Built in accordance with the classification standards of the Indian Register of Shipping (IRS), Nistar represents a significant step in India's drive towards self-reliance in defence manufacturing under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative. The 118-metre-long vessel, with a displacement of nearly 10,000 tons, is equipped with cutting-edge systems for deep-sea diving and submarine rescue operations, capabilities possessed by only a few navies globally.

Derived from the Sanskrit word for "liberation" or "rescue," Nistar is specifically designed for underwater rescue and salvage missions. The vessel is outfitted with state-of-the-art saturation diving systems that allow operations at depths of up to 300 metres. It also features a Side Diving Stage for shallow-water dives up to 75 metres.

In addition to its diving functions, Nistar will serve as the ‘Mother Ship’ for the Indian Navy’s Deep Submergence Rescue Vessel (DSRV), enabling emergency evacuation of submariners during underwater contingencies. The ship’s onboard suite of Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) can operate at depths reaching 1,000 metres for salvage and diver monitoring tasks. With nearly 75% indigenous content, the successful delivery of Nistar highlights the Indian Navy’s commitment to indigenous shipbuilding and aligns with the Government of India’s Make in India vision.