INS Nistar | 12 Jul 2025

Source: PIB 

The Indian Navy has inducted INS Nistar, its first indigenously built Diving Support Vessel (DSV), delivered by Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL), Visakhapatnam. 

• A DSV is a specialized naval ship designed for underwater operations, including diver deployment, rescue missions, and submarine crew recovery. 

INS Nistar 

• Technical Specifications: It measures approximately 120 metres in length with a displacement of around 10,000 tonnes.  
  • It has an endurance of over 60 days at sea, is capable of supporting helicopter operations, and is equipped with a 15-tonne subsea crane to facilitate deep-sea recovery missions. 
• Operational Capabilities: INS Nistar functions as the Mother Ship for Deep Submergence Rescue Vessels (DSRV) for submarine rescue, features a Dynamic Positioning System (DPS) for precise station-keeping, Side-Scan SONAR for seabed mapping, and supports search, recovery, diving, and salvage operations. 
  • Upon commissioning, the vessel will be inducted into the Eastern Naval Command to enhance capabilities in deep-sea diving and submarine rescue operations. 
    • The Indian Navy is organized into 3 major commands: Western, Eastern, and Southern Naval Commands. 
• Legacy and Significance: INS Nistar continues the legacy of the original vessel acquired from the USSR in 1969 (decommissioned in 1989), significantly enhancing India’s submarine rescue capability, reinforcing strategic maritime autonomy, and strengthening India’s role as a net security provider in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), which supports India’s SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) initiative.