Rajnath Singh to attend DSV Nistar commissioning on July 18

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will attend the commissioning of India's first of its kind Diving Support Vessel (DSV) Nistar at Naval Dockyard, Visakhapatnam on July 18.

The event marks the formal induction of the ship which has been indigenously designed and constructed by Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL). On commissioning, the ship will join the Eastern Naval Command to support deep sea diving and submarine rescue operations.

⁠The ship is a testament to the GoI's resolute focus on nation building through self-reliance in defence production. A total of 120 MSMEs have participated in the construction of this ambitious, unique and state-of-the-art vessel, achieving more than 80% 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 ex-Nistar, was a submarine rescue vessel which was acquired by the Indian Navy from the erstwhile USSR in 1969 and commissioned in 1971. In two decades of service, she had significantly contributed towards the Indian Navy's diving and submarine rescue operations. With the commissioning of this ship, the legacy of ex-Nistar continues onwards, with her motto 'Surakshita Yathartha Shauryam' translating to 'Deliverance with Precision and Bravery', aptly reflecting the main roles of the ship.

With a length of approximately 12 meters and displacing more than 10,000 tonnes, the DSV has the capacity to maintain its position with extreme accuracy, using 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 (DRV), the induction of this platform would provide a major capability enhancement to Indian Navy's Submarine rescue preparedness.