In a major boost to India’s maritime capabilities and self-reliance in defence production, the Indian Navy on Friday commissioned ‘Nistar’, the country’s first indigenously designed and built Diving Support Vessel (DSV), at the Naval Dockyard in Visakhapatnam. The commissioning ceremony took place in the presence of Union Minister of State for Defence, Sanjay Seth.
Built by Hindustan Shipyard Limited, ‘Nistar’ was officially delivered to the Navy on July 8, 2025, and stands as a milestone in India’s journey toward Aatmanirbharta in defence manufacturing. Designed according to the Indian Register of Shipping’s classification rules, the vessel boasts over 80% indigenous content, with contributions from 120 MSMEs.
Measuring 118 metres in length and weighing nearly 10,000 tons, the highly specialised vessel is equipped with advanced systems for deep-sea diving, rescue, and salvage operations—capabilities possessed by only a select few navies worldwide. The ship is capable of deep saturation diving up to 300 metres, has a side diving stage for depths of 75 metres, and can operate remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) up to 1,000 metres for monitoring and rescue missions.
‘Nistar’ will also function as the Mother Ship for the Deep Submergence Rescue Vessel (DSRV), further strengthening India’s ability to respond to submarine emergencies.
The vessel revives the legacy of its predecessor—ex-Nistar, a Soviet-era submarine rescue ship commissioned in 1971—which served the Navy for over two decades. Upholding that tradition, the new Nistar bears the motto “Surakshita Yatharthta Shauryam”, meaning “Deliverance with Precision and Bravery.”
The commissioning of Nistar marks a major stride in India’s defence modernisation and showcases the country’s growing prowess in indigenous naval shipbuilding.
