New Delhi: ‘Nistar’, the first indigenously designed and constructed Diving Support Vessel (DSV), was delivered by Hindustan Shipyard Limited to the Indian Navy on 8 July 2025 at Visakhapatnam.

The vessel has been designed and built as per the classification rules of the Indian Register of Shipping (IRS). Highly specialised in capability, Nistar can undertake deep sea diving and rescue operations — a capability held by only a few navies across the globe.

The name ‘Nistar’, derived from Sanskrit, means liberation, rescue or salvation. The ship measures 118 metres in length with a displacement of nearly 10,000 tonnes. It is equipped with state-of-the-art diving equipment and is capable of saturation diving operations up to a depth of 300 metres. It also features a side diving stage for operations up to 75 metres.

Nistar is also designed to serve as the ‘mother ship’ for Deep Submergence Rescue Vessels (DSRVs), capable of rescuing and evacuating personnel from submarines during underwater emergencies. The ship is equipped with a combination of Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) to support diver monitoring and salvage operations at depths of up to 1,000 metres.

With approximately 75 percent indigenous content, the delivery of Nistar marks another significant milestone in the Indian Navy’s journey towards self-reliance in warship construction. It aligns with the Government of India’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative and the Make in India campaign.

BI Bureau