INS Nistar: India’s First Indigenous Diving Support and Submarine Rescue Vessel Commissioned

India's maritime aspirations moved into a new depth with the commissioning of INS Nistar, the nation's first indigenously constructed and designed Diving Support Vessel (DSV). Filled with the latest technology and equipped for sophisticated underwater operations, INS Nistar is as much an engineering success as an operational breakthrough for the Indian Navy. 

Only a handful of navies in the world have such advanced capabilities, and the ship puts India among the world's best submarine rescue and deep-sea diving operations.

Key Specifications

Design and Capabilities

• Mother Ship for DSRVs: INS Nistar is the "Mother Ship" of Deep Submergence Rescue Vessels (DSRVs) responsible for the rescue and evacuation of submarine crews that are stuck deep under water.

• Sophisticated Diving Gear: Positioned with saturation diving systems to 300 meters depth and a side diving stage for operations to 75 meters depth.

• Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs): They are able to dive to depths of 1,000 meters, and extend the ship's ability for rescue, search and salvage work.

• Dynamic Positioning Systems: Even in challenging maritime conditions, Nistar is able to maintain position during complex underwater operations thanks to sophisticated systems like Dynamic Positioning (DP-II).

• Multi-Mission Flexibility: The ship has a 15-ton subsea crane, helipad facilities, side-scan sonars for surveying the seafloor, and an onboard hospital with hyperbaric medical therapy and critical care.

Indigenous Powerhouse With more than 75% of its parts made in India, INS Nistar is the pinnacle of the country's Aatmanirbhar Bharat mission. More than 120 Micro, Small, and Medium-Sized Enterprises (MSMEs) participated in the project, proving that India can produce highly complex platforms that meet international standards.

Strategic Significance

• Force Multiplier: The vessel enhances India's submarine rescue and deep-sea operational capacity, which makes her a sought-after submarine rescue ally in the Indian Ocean Region.

• Regional Security: By facilitating higher interoperability and providing crucial rescue capabilities to regional partners, INS Nistar strengthens India's role as a net security provider under the SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) vision.

• Legacy: The origin of the name 'Nistar' is from an older rescue ship that performed a pivotal function during the 1971 Indo-Pak war, representing a legacy of operational superiority and naval salvation.

Legacy and Future

INS Nistar signals just the start. It is the lead of a pair of two cutting-edge DSVs, with her sister vessel, INS Nipun, to follow. Combined, these ships will significantly boost India's readiness for submarine crises, augment indigenous defence production, and fortify safety nets for naval personnel working under the seas.

INS Nistar is not so much a technological feat—it is a forceful declaration of ambition, putting India in the select company of nations capable of designing, constructing, and deploying cutting-edge submarine rescue vessels independently. 

With this ship, India not only enhances its strategic maritime presence but also safeguards the lives of its submarine personnel, further establishing itself as a responsible and competent power in the Indo-Pacific.