The Indian Navy will commission its first indigenously designed and built Diving Support Vessel (DSV), Nistar, on July 18 at the Naval Dockyard in Visakhapatnam. The Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will attend the induction ceremony.

Nistar, built by Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL) in Visakhapatnam, was officially delivered to the Navy on July 8. With this, India will join a small group of countries that have special ships for deep-sea diving and submarine rescue.

A lifesaving ship underwater

Nistar is a modern and advanced ship made to handle difficult underwater rescue and diving tasks. Once it joins the Navy, it will become part of the Eastern Naval Command, giving a big boost to India’s ability to deal with underwater emergencies.

A Navy spokesperson said that Nistar will act as the "Mother Ship" for the Deep Submergence Rescue Vessel (DSRV). This vessel helps in saving and bringing out crew from submarines that are in trouble under the sea. This ability is very important, and only a few navies in the world have it.

Nistar is a major step in increasing the Navy’s readiness for submarine rescue missions.

What makes Nistar special?

The ship is around 120 meters long and weighs about 10,000 tonnes. It has several advanced systems and features, such as

  • A dynamic positioning system to stay in one spot even in rough seas
  • A full diving complex with air and saturation diving systems
  • Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) and side-scan sonar to explore underwater
  • A 15-tonne sub-sea crane and a helipad for helicopter support
  • Medical support like an operation theatre, ICU, 8-bed hospital, and hyperbaric facilities
  • Ability to stay at sea for over 60 days

The Navy said Nistar will carry out its duty with the motto:
‘Surakshita Yatharthta Shauryam,’ which means "Deliverance with Precision and Bravery." This shows its purpose—to perform precise and brave underwater rescue missions.

Built with Indian strength

More than 80% of the ship is made with Indian parts. The project involved 120 small and medium industries (MSMEs) from different parts of the country. This supports the government’s goal of 'Aatmanirbharta' (self-reliance) in defence.

Nistar continues the name of the earlier ship, ex-Nistar, which came from the USSR and served from 1971 to the 1990s.

You might also be interested in: Mumbai teen boys assaulted, forced into oral sex over unpaid loan