The Indian Navy is commissioning its first indigenously designed and built Diving Support Vessel (DSV), Nistar, on July 18, 2025, at the Naval Dockyard in Visakhapatnam. The commissioning ceremony will be attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. The Nistar will join the Eastern Naval Command to support deep-sea diving and submarine rescue operations.

Significance of Nistar

Nistar's commissioning marks a significant milestone in India's quest for self-reliance ("Aatmanirbharta") in defense production. The vessel has been designed and constructed by Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL) in Visakhapatnam. Over 120 Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) contributed to the construction of this state-of-the-art vessel, achieving over 80% indigenous content.

The name Nistar, derived from Sanskrit, translates to "liberation," "rescue," or "salvation". This reflects the vessel's primary role in supporting underwater rescue and diving operations. The ship's motto is "Surakshita Yatharthta Shauryam," which means "Deliverance with Precision and Bravery".

Capabilities of Nistar

Nistar is a specialized naval ship designed for underwater operations, including diver deployment, rescue missions, and submarine crew recovery. It measures approximately 120 meters in length and displaces around 10,000 tons. The vessel has an endurance of over 60 days at sea and is capable of supporting helicopter operations. It is also equipped with a 15-tonne subsea crane to facilitate deep-sea recovery missions.

• Diving Support: Nistar is equipped with state-of-the-art diving equipment and has the capability to undertake deep-sea saturation diving up to 300 meters depth. It also has a side diving stage for undertaking diving operations up to 75 meters depth. The diving complex onboard consists of both air and saturation diving systems. The vessel includes a multi-lock decompression chamber, a hyperbaric treatment facility, and a centralized diving control station.
• Submarine Rescue: Nistar functions as the "Mother Ship" for Deep Submergence Rescue Vessels (DSRV) for submarine rescue. It is equipped with a Dynamic Positioning System (DPS) for precise station-keeping. The ship has a Submersible Decompression Chamber (SDC), or Diving Bell, which is launched through a moon pool for diver safety, and a Self-Propelled Hyperbaric Lifeboat (SPHL).
• Search and Salvage: Nistar features Side-Scan SONAR for seabed mapping. It is equipped with Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) for diver monitoring and salvage operations up to a depth of 1000 meters. The ship also has a 15-tonne subsea crane.

Historical Context

The commissioning of the new Nistar continues the legacy of the original vessel acquired from the USSR in 1969, which was commissioned in 1971 and decommissioned in 1989. The erstwhile INS Nistar significantly contributed to the Indian Navy's diving and submarine rescue operations.

Impact

The induction of Nistar is expected to provide a major capability enhancement to the Indian Navy's submarine rescue preparedness. It will enhance India's operational preparedness in the underwater domain and reinforce its strategic maritime posture across the Indian Ocean Region. The commissioning of Nistar underscores India's continued progress in indigenizing its defense sector and reflects the Indian Navy's unwavering commitment to bolstering its underwater warfare and rescue capabilities.