NewzVille Desk
The Indian Navy commissioned INS Nistar, the country’s first indigenously designed and built Diving Support Vessel, at a ceremony held in Visakhapatnam.
Designed by the Indian Navy’s Directorate of Naval Design and constructed by Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL), INS Nistar represents a significant leap in India’s maritime self-reliance. The vessel is equipped with cutting-edge deep-sea diving systems, saturation diving capabilities, and a host of advanced underwater support technologies.
INS Nistar is primarily tasked with conducting deep-sea diving operations and submarine rescue missions. It acts as a mother ship for Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicles (DSRVs), which are deployed to rescue crew members from submarines that are disabled or stranded underwater.
The vessel features a dedicated diving complex spread across multiple decks and is capable of supporting saturation diving operations up to a depth of 300 metres. It enables divers to conduct underwater inspection, maintenance, and repair of naval assets in deep-sea conditions.
INS Nistar is also equipped for salvage and recovery missions, with the ability to locate and retrieve sunken vessels, black boxes, and missile parts using Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) that can operate at depths of up to 1,000 metres.
The ship includes advanced oceanographic tools such as side-scan sonar for seabed mapping and underwater surveys, offering valuable insights into the maritime environment and enhancing the Navy’s operational preparedness.
Named after the Sanskrit word “Nistar,” meaning rescue or liberation, the vessel is designed to respond rapidly to a wide range of maritime emergencies, significantly bolstering India’s underwater rescue and recovery infrastructure.
The induction of INS Nistar marks a strategic addition to India’s naval capabilities, placing the Indian Navy among a select group of global maritime forces with sophisticated deep-sea support and rescue assets.
