Keel laid for FSS at L&T Shipyard
‘Nistar’, the first indigenously designed and constructed Diving Support Vessel installed with state-of-the-art Diving Equipment and capability to undertake Deep Sea Saturation Diving up to 300 m depth, was delivered by Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL) to the Indian Navy on 8 Jul 2025 at Visakhapatnam http://mod.gov.in .
The ship, measuring 118 m with a tonnage of nearly 10,000 tons, has a Side Diving Stage for undertaking Diving Operations up to 75 m depth.
The warship has been designed and built as per classification rules of the Indian Register of Shipping (IRS) https://www.bseindia.com/.
The ship is highly specialised and can undertake Deep Sea Diving and Rescue Operations, a capability with select Navies across the globe.
The ship’s name, ‘Nistar’, originates from Sanskrit and means liberation, rescue or salvation https://www.nseindia.com/.
The ship will also serve as the ‘Mother Ship’ for the Deep Submergence Rescue Vessel (DSRV), to rescue and evacuate personnel, in case of an emergency in a submarine underwater. The ship is equipped with a combination of Remotely Operated Vehicles to undertake Diver Monitoring and Salvage Operations up to a depth of 1,000 m.
The delivery of Nistar, with nearly 75% indigenous content, is yet another milestone in the Indian Navy’s quest for indigenous construction and is in line with the Government’s vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat and the Make in India campaign https://www.makeinindia.com/home/.
Meanwhile, ‘Keel Laying’ ceremony of third Fleet Support Ships (FSS) was held at L&T Shipyard, Kattupalli on 9 Jul 25, in the presence of VAdm Rajaram Swaminathan, Controller Warship Production & Acquisition and senior officials from the Indian Navy, HSL and L&T.
Indian Navy had signed a contract with HSL for acquisition of Five Fleet Support Ships (FSS) in Aug 2023, with deliveries commencing mid-2027 https://www.state.gov/.
Showcasing the strength of public-private partnership, HSL has sub-contracted construction of two ships to L&T Shipyard, Kattupalli to effectively utilise the country’s shipbuilding capacity and meet stringent timelines for delivery.
On induction, the FSS will bolster the ‘Blue Water’ capabilities of the Indian Navy through replenishment of Fleet ships at sea. These ships, with a displacement of more than 40,000 tons will carry fuel, water, ammunition and stores that enable prolonged and sustained operations of the fleet at sea, thus enhancing its reach and mobility https://www.shipyardsassociationofindia.com/.
In their secondary role, the ships will be equipped for Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations for evacuation of personnel and expeditious delivery of relief material during natural calamities https://sbi.com.in/.
The indigenously designed and built warship is equipped with equipment sourced through Indian OEMs.
This prestigious project will significantly boost the Indian Shipbuilding Industry and is a true champion of Government initiatives such as Aatmanirbhar Bharat, Make in India and Make for the World. Fiinews.com
