INS Nistar: India’s New Deep-Sea Life-Saving Warrior Takes Command

    July 19,2025 |By [ Selvarani M ]

INS Nistar

INS stands for Indian Naval Ship, which is the official prefix for all commissioned ships in the Indian Navy. These ships serve a variety of purposes, from combat operations to humanitarian missions. Every ship with the prefix "INS" represents India's maritime prowess and sovereignty. INS Nistar is one of the Navy's latest special platforms - designed not for combat, but for saving lives underwater. It marks a major step forward in India's submarine rescue capability, replacing older assets with cutting-edge technology suited for undersea emergencies. INS Nistar was formally commissioned into the Indian Navy on July 18, 2025, in Visakhapatnam, at a ceremony presided over by Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth and Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi. Hindustan Shipyard Limited delivered the ship on July 8, 2025, marking a major shift from small port ships to strategic naval platforms.

How INS Nistar will save lives in the deep sea

Commissioned in July 2025, INS Nistar is a Deep Submarine Rescue Vessel (DSRV) mother ship. Key life-saving roles include, deploying submarine rescue systems to a depth of 650 meters, remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) for underwater exploration, a small diver decompression chamber on board, a command module for satellite communication and emergency coordination, and a rapid response to submarine distress calls in wartime situations and training accidents, designed to protect the lives of personnel when every second counts.

Diving Support & Rescue Depth

The DSRV mother ship supports deep-sea enrichment diving up to 300 metres with side scan sonar, diving bells, decompression chambers and a self-propelled hyperbaric lifeboat (SPHL). It was designed as a dedicated mother ship for the Indian Navy's Deep Submersible Rescue Vehicles (DSRVs). It enables rapid inland sea rescue operations at depths of up to 650 metres. The Dynamic Positioning System (DP II) enables accurate - and efficient - search and rescue efforts in harsh sea conditions. These are equipped with ROVs (Remotely Operated Vehicles) capable of operating up to 1,000 metres.

Latest Strategic Plans & Capabilities

INS Nistar, along with its sister ship INS Nipun, strengthens India's Deep Sea Support Fleet. As part of the Indian Navy's "Project Nishad", to enhance the underwater survivability of India's submarines, conduct joint rescue operations with friendly navies (Quad, IOR partners). Act as a training and simulation platform for undersea rescue exercises. Assist in underwater rescue operations and maritime surveys. The ship, equipped with advanced DSRV capabilities, is positioned and reflects the country's maritime self-reliance under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.

Support Infrastructure and Endurance

Long-endurance design is key for submarine rescue operations: can remain at sea for more than 60 days, enable extended operations, patrols and regional assistance missions and enhance India’s position as a preferred submarine rescue partner in the Indian Ocean region supporting strategic partnerships in emergencies. The second DSV, INS Nipun, is scheduled to be commissioned later this year, doubling India’s deep-sea rescue readiness

Latest Updates

INS Nistar was formally commissioned into the Indian Navy on July 18, 2025, in Visakhapatnam, at a ceremony presided over by Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth and Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi. Hindustan Shipyard Limited delivered the ship on July 8, 2025, marking a major shift from small port ships to strategic naval platforms.

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