Will India's First Indigenous Diving Support Vessel 'Nistar' Be Commissioned Next Week?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Nistar marks a significant leap towards indigenous defense production.
- The vessel is set to enhance the Indian Navy's operational capabilities.
- A total of 120 MSMEs contributed to its construction.
- Nistar is equipped for deep-sea diving and submarine rescue operations.
- The commissioning event will be attended by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
New Delhi, July 10 (NationPress) In a remarkable leap towards self-reliance in the Defence sector, the Indian Navy is poised to commission the inaugural Diving Support Vessel (DSV) 'Nistar' at the Naval Dockyard in Visakhapatnam on July 18, with Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in attendance, according to a statement by the Navy spokesperson.
This event signifies the official induction of the vessel, which has been indigenously designed and built by M/s Hindustan Shipyard Limited in Visakhapatnam.
Upon commissioning, the ship will integrate into the Eastern Naval Command to facilitate deep-sea diving and submarine rescue operations.
The ship stands as a testament to the government's unwavering commitment to nation-building through self-reliance in defence production and a strong focus on 'Aatmanirbharta'.
A total of 120 MSMEs contributed to the construction of this ambitious, state-of-the-art vessel, achieving over 80 percent indigenous content. The project aligns with the Indian Navy's vision of developing complex indigenous platforms, as stated by a Navy spokesperson.
Previously known as ex-Nistar, this vessel was a submarine rescue ship acquired by the Indian Navy from the former Soviet Union in 1969 and was commissioned in 1971.
“During two decades of service, she significantly advanced the Indian Navy's diving and submarine rescue operations,” the statement highlighted.
Received by the Indian Navy on July 8 in Visakhapatnam, this vessel adheres to the classification standards of the Indian Register of Shipping (IRS) and exemplifies cutting-edge Indian engineering, reinforcing the Navy's ongoing push towards indigenous capabilities under the 'Make in India' initiative.
With a length of 118 metres and a displacement of nearly 10,000 tonnes, Nistar is equipped to undertake deep-sea diving and submarine rescue missions—a complex capability held by only a few navies globally.
Named after the Sanskrit word 'Nistar', meaning liberation or rescue, the ship boasts advanced diving systems that allow for saturation diving up to 300 metres and a side diving stage for missions reaching 75 metres.
With an endurance exceeding 60 days at sea, along with the capacity for helicopter operations and a 15-ton subsea crane, the ship presents a highly versatile platform.
Crucially, the vessel is designed to function as the 'Mother Ship' for the Deep Submergence Rescue Vessel, facilitating rapid personnel evacuation and submarine rescue during underwater emergencies.
To support intricate underwater tasks, Nistar is outfitted with Remotely Operated Vehicles capable of diver monitoring and salvage operations at depths of up to 1,000 metres.
The induction of Nistar substantially boosts the Navy's sub-surface operational capabilities, especially in submarine rescue and critical underwater recovery tasks.
Besides its operational advantages, the vessel further solidifies India's Defence manufacturing ecosystem, merging indigenous shipbuilding expertise with strategic naval functionality.