The Indian Navy commissioned INS Nistar, a diving support vessel (DSV), India first indigenously constructed, in Visakhapatnam. The 118-metre ship is built by Hindustan Shipyard Ltd. and is fitted to work with deep-sea saturation diving and submarine rescue. The ship enhances the ability of India to serve as a regional maritime security partner and the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative. Possessing ROVs, hyperbaric lifeboats, and compression rooms, it is capable of working in a depth of up to 300 metres. The INS Nistar will serve as a mother to Deep Submergence Rescue Vessels (DSRVs) that are applied in cases of submarine disaster.
What is INS Nistar?
|
Feature |
Details |
|
Type |
Diving Support Vessel (DSV) |
|
Builder |
Hindustan Shipyard Ltd., Visakhapatnam |
|
Length |
118 metres |
|
Role |
Submarine rescue, salvage, saturation diving |
|
Diving Depth |
Up to 300 metres |
|
Commissioned |
July 12, 2025 |
|
Special Systems |
ROVs, hyperbaric lifeboat, diving chambers |
Features of INS Nistar
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Underwater under-sea ROVs inspection vehicles
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Self-propelled Hyperbaric Life Boat (SPHL) to rescue of divers/submariners under pressure
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Diving Compression Chambers in aid of saturation diving
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Deep Submergence Rescue Vessel (DSRV) Mother Ship
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It is able to do under water salvage and recovery work
What is Diver Saturation Diving?
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A deep-sea diving method adopted with depth beyond 50 metres with divers working under pressure at frequent times.
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Used in:
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Submarine rescue
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Repairs and salvage in the under-water field
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Offshore Gas and oil platforms
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Strategic Importance
|
Area |
Importance |
|
Navy’s Role |
Enhances India's ability as first responder in regional submarine accidents |
|
Maritime Security |
Supports India's status as a Preferred Security Partner in the Indian Ocean |
|
Indigenous Capability |
Boosts self-reliance in naval shipbuilding under Aatmanirbhar Bharat |
|
Humanitarian Ops |
Useful in search and rescue (SAR), disaster relief, and underwater accident response |
Native Defence Reinforcement
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INS Nistar belongs to the Indian Navy indigenous build-up of a required 57 new warships in the pipeline.
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The innovation was done through the Indian expertise and it is aimed at making use of less foreign diving and rescue vessels.
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A representation of the Make in India success story in the world of complex naval platforms.
Global context
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Just a small number of navies (e.g. the US, UK and France) possess operational back-ends, full-fledged DSVs capable of saturation diving and rescuing deep subs.
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INS Nistar puts India in an exclusive club as a country which can help in international submarine rescue operations.
Conclusion
INS Nistar is a revolutionary vessel in the Indian Navy fleet, which strengthens the maritime power of India, domestic defence production, and strategic involvement in the Indo-Pacific. It is a turning point in the Indian efforts to emerge as a self reliant maritime power with essential under sea support capability.
