The Indian Navy on Tuesday commemorated the induction of its first indigenously designed and built Diving Support Vessel (DSV), Nistar. The ship was formally handed over by Hindustan Shipyard Limited during a ceremony at Visakhapatnam.
Built according to the Indian Register of Shipping (IRS) classification regulations, Nistar is a highly specialized warship that is intended to conduct Deep Sea Diving and Rescue Operations- a capability that few navies worldwide possess.
Nistar, a Sanskrit name, means liberation, rescue, or salvation. Nistar is 118 meters in length and displaces around 10,000 tons. Fitted with the latest diving equipment, Nistar can perform deep sea saturation diving operations to a depth of 300 meters. It also possesses a side diving stage that can carry out diving operations up to 75 meters in depth.
One of the most important roles of the ship will be to act as the “Mother Ship” for the Deep Submergence Rescue Vessel (DSRV) that is employed in rescuing and evacuating the crew during a submarine emergency. The ship is also equipped with advanced Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) with the ability to perform diver monitoring and salvage operations up to 1000 meters beneath the sea.
With approximately 75% indigenous content, the successful completion of Nistar is a major step in the Indian Navy’s pursuit of self-reliance in defence manufacturing.
