Indian Naval Ship Nistar: India has taken a big step to strenghten its naval power with the launch of Nistar, a cutting-edge Diving Support Vessel (DSV) built by Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL). This advanced ship marks a significant milestone in India’s ability to conduct deep-sea rescue missions, support submarine operations, and enhance maritime security in the Indian Ocean Region.
Nistar was made by Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL), which hadn’t built such complex naval ships for almost 30 years. Since the 1990s, HSL mostly worked on commercial ships like barges and bulk carriers. Those were simpler projects. But this time, the Navy gave HSL a tough and important task to build a Diving Support Vessel instead of a usual warship like a destroyer or frigate. This was India’s first DSV, and it needed advanced skills and technology.
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HSL successfully finished this challenging task, which proves that the shipyard now has the power to take on more complex jobs. This project also puts HSL in a small group of shipyards around the world that can build such special vessels. It is seen as a major moment in HSL’s long history. “This significant transformation in Hindustan Shipyard’s capabilities took place under the pragmatic leadership of its current Chairman and Managing Director, Commodore Hemant Khatri (Retd),” Asianet Newsable reported. His work brought changes like new cranes, better slipways, and smart planning. All of this helped HSL become modern and capable of handling projects like Nistar.
Features of Nistar
One of the most special things about Nistar is its Dynamic Positioning system, called DP-II. This helps the ship stay in one spot without using an anchor, even when the sea is rough. It’s very useful during rescue missions when the ship must stay exactly above a damaged submarine.
Nistar also has a Diving Bell, which is a special chamber called the Submersible Decompression Chamber. It goes in and out of the sea through a “moon pool,” which is an opening in the ship. This lets divers go deep underwater and return safely.
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The ship also has a Self-Propelled Hyperbaric Lifeboat (SPHL). It helps divers escape quickly from deep-sea pressure. Only a few ships in the world have this. Nistar also carries a Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle (DSRV). It can go down to a submarine in trouble, connect with it, and bring the crew back up safely.
There are also two underwater robots on the ship, called Observation Remotely Operated Vehicles (OROVs). They can go where humans can’t and are used for checking the sea floor. Each robot has its own system to go into the water and come back. Nistar also has a strong marine crane that can lift heavy things safely, even when the sea moves due to its smart balancing system.
A Boost for India’s Defense Industry
The success of Nistar highlights India’s growing self-reliance in defense manufacturing. Nearly 80% of the ship’s components were sourced locally, with over 120 small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) contributing to its construction. This not only strengthens India’s industrial base but also creates jobs and fosters technical expertise in shipbuilding.
Under the leadership of Commodore Hemant Khatri (Retd), HSL has modernized its infrastructure, adding high capacity cranes and upgraded shipbuilding docks. These improvements have positioned India to produce more advanced naval vessels in the future, reducing dependence on foreign suppliers.
