Delivery Of First Indigenous Diving Support Vessel – ‘Nistar’
Hindustan Shipyard Limited hands over highly specialized vessel to the Indian Navy at Visakhapatnam
In a significant boost to India’s maritime self-reliance, ‘Nistar’, the first indigenously designed and constructed Diving Support Vessel (DSV), was formally delivered by Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL) to the Indian Navy on 08 July 2025 at Visakhapatnam.
Built under the classification rules of the Indian Register of Shipping (IRS), Nistar is a highly specialized warship capable of undertaking deep-sea diving and submarine rescue operations—a strategic capability possessed by only a few navies around the world.
The name ‘Nistar’ derives from Sanskrit, signifying liberation, rescue, or salvation. The vessel spans 118 meters in length and displaces nearly 10,000 tons. It is equipped with state-of-the-art diving systems, enabling saturation diving operations up to 300 meters and side diving operations up to 75 meters in depth.
Designed to operate as the ‘Mother Ship’ for the Deep Submergence Rescue Vessel (DSRV), Nistar will play a pivotal role in submarine emergency rescue missions. The ship is also fitted with Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) capable of performing diver monitoring and salvage operations up to 1000 meters underwater.
With nearly 75% indigenous content, the delivery of Nistar marks a major milestone in India’s pursuit of self-reliance in defence manufacturing. It exemplifies the Indian Navy’s commitment to indigenous shipbuilding and aligns with the Government of India’s vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat and the Make in India initiative.
