Navy Inducts HSL made First Indigenous Diving Support Vessel ‘Nistar’

The public sector defence company Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL) has delivered the first indigenously designed and built Diving Support Vessel, ‘Nistar’, to the Indian Navy at a ceremony held in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. 

Nistar, which in Sanskrit means crossing, escaping, or liberation, will enhance the Navy's rescue capability in the event of submarine accidents. 

About the Ship Nistar 

Nistar will be a mothership that will tow a Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle (DSRV) to the site where a submarine has sunk due to an accident or other reasons.

Until now, the Indian Navy has used foreign-made ships for this purpose.

Nistar is 118 meters long with a tonnage of around 10,000 tonnes.

The ship, with an indigenous content of 75%, has been built under the Government of India's Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India campaign.

Equipped with Remotely Operated Vehicles, Nistar is capable of undertaking Diver Monitoring and Salvage Operations up to a depth of 1000 meters in the sea or ocean.

The side diving stage of the ship can undertake diving operations to a depth of up to 75 meters.

About Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle (DSRV)

The Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle (DSRV) is a specialised underwater vehicle used to rescue personnel from distressed/ sunken submarines. 

A mother ship tows the DSRV to the rescue site and dives to the spot where the submarine has sunk.

The DSRV mates with the sunken submarine through a hatch, creating a corridor for the crew of the sunken submarine to enter the DSRV.

The Indian Navy currently operates two DSRVs bought from the United Kingdom, with one deployed in Mumbai and the second stationed in Visakhapatnam.

These DSRVs can dive to depths of up to 650 meters in water and can remain submerged for up to 10 hours.

About Hindustan Shipyard Limited 

The Hindustan Shipyard Limited was established in 1941 as Scindia Shipyard by the pioneer of the shipping sector in India, Seth Walchand Hirachand, in Visakhapatnam.

The Government of India acquired the shipyard in 1952 and renamed it Hindustan Shipyard Limited.

In 2010, it was brought under the Union Ministry of Defence.

 It is the country’s premier shipbuilding organisation, which builds ships, submarines, offshore patrol vessels, and conducts ship repairs, among other services.

Headquarters- Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh 

Chairman cum Managing Director(CMD): Hemant Khatri