INS Nistar commissioned, significantly bolsters Indian Navy's deep sea rescue capabilities

The Indian Navy today commissioned INS Nistar, its first indigenously designed and constructed diving support vessel, in a significant ceremony held in Visakhapatnam. The event, graced by Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth and Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, marks a major stride in India's self-reliance in defence and significantly enhances the Navy's capabilities for complex deep-sea operations.

Built by Hindustan Shipyard Limited, INS Nistar is equipped to undertake advanced deep-sea saturation diving and critical rescue operations, a sophisticated capability possessed by only a select few navies globally. The vessel can perform diving and salvage missions up to a depth of 300 meters and crucially serves as the 'Mother Ship' for deep-submergence rescue vessels (DSRVs). This vital function enables the Navy to effectively rescue and evacuate personnel from distressed submerged submarines, bolstering India's role as a "Preferred Submarine Rescue Partner" in the region.

Both Minister Seth and Admiral Tripathi lauded the commissioning as a testament to the nation's "Aatmanirbhar Bharat" (self-reliant India) initiative. With over 80% indigenous content and the involvement of 120 MSMEs, INS Nistar underscores India's prowess in constructing complex warships on par with international standards. Its induction is described as a technological leap, reinforcing the Indian Navy's role as the 'First Responder' and 'Preferred Security Partner' in the Indian Ocean Region, and strengthening its underwater capabilities for a future-ready naval force.