- Hindustan Shipyard Limited recently delivered the Diving Support Vessel (DSV) 'Nistar' to the Indian Navy at Visakhapatnam, marking a major achievement in India's indigenous shipbuilding efforts.
Name Meaning:
- The word ‘Nistar’ comes from Sanskrit and means liberation, rescue, or salvation.
Significance:
- It is India’s first indigenously designed and constructed Diving Support Vessel, specially built for deep-sea rescue and diving operations.
Classification:
- Designed and constructed according to the Indian Register of Shipping (IRS) standards.
Size and Build:
- Length: 118 meters
- Displacement: Nearly 10,000 tons
- Built with approximately 75% indigenous content
- Deep-Sea Diving Capabilities:
- Equipped for Saturation Diving up to 300 meters depth
- Side Diving Stage enables diving up to 75 meters
Rescue Operations:
- Acts as the ‘Mother Ship’ for the Deep Submergence Rescue Vessel (DSRV)
- Used in emergencies involving submarines, to rescue trapped personnel underwater
Advanced Technology:
- Equipped with Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs)
- Capable of diver monitoring and salvage operations up to 1000 meters depth
Strategic Importance:
- Enhances India's underwater rescue preparedness
- Reflects India’s push for self-reliance in defense under Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiatives
- Places India among the few countries with advanced naval diving and rescue capabilities
- INS Nistar is a major step forward in strengthening the Indian Navy’s operational reach and safety infrastructure in underwater missions.