Indian Navy will commission its first indigenous diving support vessel (DSV), INS Nistar, at Visakhapatnam today. The name ‘Nistar’ originates from Sanskrit, and it means liberation, rescue or salvation. 

Akashvani correspondent reports that Designed and built indigenously by Hindustan Shipyard Limited at Visakhapatnam, Nistar represents a major step forward in India’s pursuit of ‘Aatmanirbharta’ (self-reliance) in defence manufacturing. With contributions from 120 MSMEs and more than 80 per cent indigenous content, the vessel stands as a testament to India’s capability to construct technologically advanced platforms that meet global standards. Displacing more than 10,500 tons, the vessel is nearly 120 metres long and 20 metres wide. Its primary roles include deep-sea diving operations and rescue missions for distressed submarines. The ship features an advanced diving complex spread across multiple decks and is outfitted with cutting-edge systems to support saturation diving missions. Enhancing its underwater operational capabilities, Nistar is equipped with Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) and functions as a mothership for the deep submergence rescue vehicle (DSRV). The commissioning of Nistar underscores India’s continued progress in indigenising its defence sector and reflects the Indian Navy’s unwavering commitment to bolstering its underwater warfare and rescue capabilities.