INS Nistar is India’s first indigenously designed and built Diving Support Vessel (DSV), commissioned by the Indian Navy on February 14, 2025, at the Naval Dockyard in Visakhapatnam. Constructed by Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL), it enhances the Navy’s underwater operational capabilities, including deep-sea diving, submarine rescue, and support for complex underwater missions.

• Purpose: Designed for deep-diving operations, submarine rescue, and supporting underwater tasks in the Indian Ocean Region.
• Specifications:
• Displacement: Approximately 9,350 tonnes.
• Length: 118.4 meters; Beam: 22.8 meters.
• Propulsion: Two diesel engines with controllable pitch propellers, providing over 11,000 horsepower and a top speed of 15 knots.
• Range: 10,000 nautical miles at 10 knots.
• Features: Equipped with a Dynamic Positioning System (Class-II) for precise station-keeping, advanced diving systems, and submarine rescue capabilities.
• Crew: Can accommodate 135 personnel, including 11 officers, 88 sailors, 12 diving support staff, and 24 others (scientists, specialists, or rescued personnel).
• Significance: Strengthens India’s maritime security, supports self-reliance in defense manufacturing (Aatmanirbhar Bharat), and enhances operational readiness for submarine rescue and deep-sea operations.
• Name: "Nistar" is derived from Sanskrit, meaning "liberation, rescue, or salvation," reflecting its role in saving lives at sea.

Notable Features:

• Submarine Rescue: Capable of rescuing personnel from distressed submarines using advanced systems like Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicles (DSRV), which can operate at depths up to 650 meters.
• Diving Support: Equipped with a six-man recompression chamber and supports mixed-gas diving for deep-sea operations.
• Operational Role: Enhances the Navy’s ability to conduct Search and Rescue (SAR), Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR), and underwater inspections or repairs.

Context:

INS Nistar, along with its sister ship INS Nirdeshak (commissioned on December 17, 2024), represents a significant milestone in India’s naval modernization. Built under a ?2,500-crore contract signed in 2018, these vessels showcase India’s growing shipbuilding expertise. Nistar is part of the Navy’s strategy to maintain a robust presence in the Indo-Pacific and ensure maritime safety.