India’s First Indigenous Diving Support Vessel 'Nistar' Inducted into Navy
India's first indigenous diving support vessel, 'Nistar', was formally inducted into the Indian Navy on July 18. This marks a significant achievement toward self-reliance in the defense sector. Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth called it a proud moment for the nation.
About the Name and Legacy
The name 'Nistar' is derived from Sanskrit, meaning "liberation" or "salvation". The previous version of this vessel had played a vital role in the 1971 Indo-Pak war, especially in identifying the Pakistani submarine ‘Ghazi’.
Advanced Capabilities and Modernization
The new Nistar is equipped with state-of-the-art diving equipment and has been rebuilt from an older vessel. Indian Navy Chief Admiral R. Hari Kumar emphasized that no ship is ever truly decommissioned — it simply returns in a more advanced form.
Capable of supporting deep-sea operations and submarine rescue missions, Nistar will serve as a 'mother ship' for underwater rescue vessels. This capability is possessed by only a select few navies globally.
Enhancing Submarine Rescue Capacity
Nistar will significantly boost India and its regional partners' ability to conduct deep-sea submarine rescue operations. Its induction establishes India as a global player in submarine emergency response.
Symbol of Technological Progress
The old version of Nistar was launched on March 29, 1971, and decommissioned in 1989. The rebuilt version now weighs 10,500 tons, compared to the previous 800 tons, and spans 120 meters in length.
Indigenous and Technologically Advanced
Nistar has been built using approximately 75% indigenous materials, making it a shining example of the 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' (Self-Reliant India) initiative. It is capable of conducting operations at depths of up to 1,000 meters and has been designed in accordance with Indian maritime standards.
Defence Minister of State Sanjay Seth noted during the launch that Nistar is a proud representation of India's growing technological capabilities and its strengthened global maritime identity.