The first indigenously designed and constructed diving support vessel INS Nistar was commissioned into the Navy Friday for undertaking complex deep-sea saturation diving and submarine rescue operations — a niche capability possessed by select navies globally.
INS Nistar is the first of the two diving support vessels being built by Hindustan Shipyard Ltd.
At the commissioning ceremony in Visakhapatnam, Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi said INS Nistar is not just a technological asset, but a crucial operational enabler. “Nistar will provide critical submarine rescue support to the Indian Navy as well as our regional partners,” he said, adding that this will enable India to emerge as a Preferred Submarine Rescue Partner in the region.
“The commissioning of Nistar is testimony to the growing capability and maturity of our maritime industrial base, and another shining example of Atmanirbhar Bharat,” he said.
MoS for Defence Sanjay Seth said the commissioning of the 118-m INS Nistar firmly reinforces the role of the Indian Navy as the ‘first responder’ and ‘preferred security partner’ in the region.
“The indigenous shipbuilding Industry has been one of the pillars of the government’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat campaign,” he said, adding that INS Nistar’s induction is a technological leap and a milestone in the Indian shipbuilding chapter towards building a future-ready force.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on X: “This induction of the DSV, installed with state-of-the-art Equipment to undertake Saturation Diving and Salvage Operations, as well as serve as the ‘Mother Ship’ for Deep Submergence Rescue Vessel (DSRV), for rescue and evacuation of personnel from a Submarine in distress, is another milestone in India’s journey towards ensuring Maritime Security and Safety in the Indian Ocean Region through Aatmanirbharta.”
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Currently, all 57 new warships in the pipeline are being constructed domestically.
As per the Navy, INS Nistar is installed with state-of-the-art Diving Equipment such as remotely operated vehicles, self-propelled hyperbaric lifeboat, diving compression chambers.
It can undertake diving and salvage operations up to a depth of 300 m. It would also serve as the ‘Mother Ship’ for deep submergence rescue vessels to rescue and evacuate personnel from a dived submarine in distress well below the surface.
“With participation of 120 MSMEs and incorporating over 80% indigenous content, INS Nistar is a statement to India’s ability to build complex ships at par with international standards,” it said.
