Indian Navy to commission first indigenous Diving Support Vessel Nistar to boost submarine support operations

The Indian Navy has said in an X post, “The name of the ship ‘Nistar’ in Sanskrit translates to rendering rescue. The crest depicts an ‘anchor’ which traditionally symbolises reliability and faith. While the ‘dolphin’ is universally regarded as a seafarer’s friend and a harbinger of fair weather.” The ship was delivered to the Navy on July 8 and is set to be commissioned on July 18.

⁠A press statement from the Ministry of Defence read, “The ship is a testament to the Government of India ‘s resolute focus on nation-building through self-reliance in defence production and unwavering focus on Aatmanirbharta. A total of 120 MSMEs have participated in the construction of this ambitious, unique and state-of-the-art vessel, achieving more than 80 per cent indigenous content. The project is a step towards realising the Indian Navy’s vision of designing and constructing complex indigenous platforms.”

⁠In her earlier avatar, INS Nistar was a submarine rescue vessel which was acquired by the Indian Navy from the erstwhile USSR in 1969 and was commissioned in 1971. In two decades of service, she had significantly contributed towards the Indian Navy’s diving and submarine rescue operations. The erstwhile INS Nistar was decommissioned in 1989.

With the commissioning of the new INS Nistar, the legacy of earlier INS Nistar continues, with her motto ‘Surakshita Yatharthta Shauryam’ translating to ‘Deliverance with Precision and Bravery’, reflecting the main roles of the ship, the MoD has said.

With a length of approximately 120 metres and displacement of more than 10,000 tonnes, the DSV has the capacity to maintain its position with extreme accuracy, using a dynamic positioning system. The expansive diving complex onboard which consists of both air and saturation diving systems, along with underwater Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) and side scan SONAR, substantially enhances the operational envelope of the vessel. As the ‘Mother Ship’ for the Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle (DSRV), the induction of this platform would provide a major capability enhancement to the Indian Navy’s Submarine rescue preparedness.

The ship is also outfitted with a fully equipped Operation Theatre (OT) and Intensive Care Unit (ICU) along with an eight-bedded hospital and hyperbaric medical facilities which are critical towards meeting her operational roles. Endurance of over 60 days at sea, capacity to undertake stage through helicopter operations and a 15-ton subsea crane make the ship a very versatile platform.
⁠”The commissioning of Nistar and its induction into the Indian Navy’s Eastern Naval Command will not only enhance India’s operational preparedness in the underwater domain but will also reinforce its strategic maritime posture across the Indian Ocean Region,” the MoD has said.

In addition to operating submarines to secure the waters, the Indian Navy undertakes diving operations in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) to facilitate various activities such as submarine rescue, underwater inspection, testing or salvage, and recovery of objects, ships or aircraft lost at sea. As these activities involve diving operations with divers remaining underwater for prolonged durations, these tasks require suitable platforms for the launch and recovery along with carriage of related tools and equipment. The Navy has said that these ships will be capable of sustained patrolling, conducting search and rescue operations and carrying out Helicopter Operations at high seas.

Officials said that while a submarine is a significant strategic asset, it is also vulnerable to action damage, requiring extensive diving for undertaking Search and Rescue (SAR) operations that demand the availability of a credible and suitably equipped platform. Induction of DSVs equipped with DSRV would be key to enhancing the Navy’s capability and reach of submarine rescue operations in the Indian Ocean Region.