India has achieved a significant milestone in naval self-reliance with the commissioning of INS Nistar, the country’s first indigenously designed and built Diving Support Vessel (DSV). The vessel was formally inducted into service at the Eastern Naval Command in Visakhapatnam, with the ceremony attended by Minister of State for Defence Shri Sanjay Seth. This event signals a major leap forward in India’s ability to conduct deep-sea rescue and complex underwater missions—capabilities previously reserved for only a handful of advanced navies around the world.
Constructed by Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL) in Visakhapatnam, INS Nistar has been purpose-engineered for saturation diving, submarine rescue, and underwater salvage operations. Equipped with advanced assets like Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs), Diving Support Chambers, and a Self-Propelled Hyperbaric Lifeboat, the vessel supports missions at depths reaching 300 meters. Its arrival strengthens India’s undersea warfare capabilities and underscores the nation’s push toward indigenization in critical defense domains.
