On 8 July 2025, the Indian Navy inducted its first indigenously designed and built Diving Support Vessel (DSV), Nistar, at a ceremony in Visakhapatnam, officially handed over by Hindustan Shipyard Limited.
Nistar, derived from Sanskrit meaning liberation or rescue, is a highly specialized warship built to perform deep sea diving and submarine rescue operations—a capability only a few navies in the world possess.
- The vessel is 118 meters long, with a displacement of 10,000 tons.
- It can conduct saturation diving up to 300 meters and side diving operations up to 75 meters.
- Acts as a “Mother Ship” for Deep Submergence Rescue Vessel (DSRV), crucial for submarine emergencies.
- Equipped with advanced ROVs (Remotely Operated Vehicles) for operations up to 1000 meters deep.
With about 75% indigenous content, Nistar represents a major step forward in India’s self-reliance in defence manufacturing and boosts the Navy’s deep sea operational capabilities.
