INS Nistar: India’s Deep-Sea Rescue Breakthrough

Syllabus Areas:

GS II - IR (Maritime Cooperation)

GS III - S&T (Defence Technology)

The Indian Navy commissioned INS Nistar at the Naval Dockyard in Visakhapatnam. Along with its sister ship INS Nipun and two Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicles (DSRVs), this marks a significant enhancement of India’s deep-sea rescue operations.

INS Nistar & Sister Ship Nipun:

  • INS Nistar: Sanskrit for "salvation", a deep-submergence rescue vessel.
  • Built by Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL) under the “Make in India” initiative.
  • Ordered in 2018 to support India’s deep-sea rescue operations.
  • Purpose: Rescue trapped submariners from disabled submarines.

Capabilities & Features:

  • Primary role: Deploy and recover DSRVs for submarine rescue operations.
  • Supports both manned and unmanned deep-sea missions.
  • Equipped with:
    • Dynamic positioning system
    • Cranes and moon pool for deploying submersibles
    • ROVs (Remotely Operated Vehicles), medical chambers, and tools to support underwater recovery

How Deep-Sea Rescue Ops Work:

  • Deployment by Mother Ship (e.g., INS Nistar):
    The rescue operation begins when the mother ship like INS Nistar reaches the site where a submarine is disabled underwater. It carries and deploys the Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle (DSRV) into the sea.
  • Initial Assessment using ROVs:
    Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) are first sent down to locate the submarine. These robotic vehicles assess the submarine’s condition, confirm the presence of crew members, and prepare the area for docking.
  • Rescue by DSRV:
    Once the submarine is located and stabilized, the DSRV docks with the submarine’s escape hatch. It creates a sealed connection to safely transfer trapped submariners into the rescue vehicle.
  • Return and Onboard Medical Care:
    The DSRV surfaces with the rescued crew, who are then given immediate medical attention on the mother ship, which is equipped with decompression chambers, medical bays, and other support systems for trauma care.

Strategic Importance:

  • Enhances India’s self-reliant maritime capabilities.
  • Offers critical niche strategic capability in the Indo-Pacific region.
  • Prior to this, India relied on commercial vessels, causing delays.

Why This Matters:

  • Strengthens India’s global standing in maritime safety.
  • Enables quicker and safer underwater rescue operations.
  • Supports India's role as a net security provider in the region.

Mains Question:

Q. “Discuss the strategic importance of India’s indigenous capability in submarine rescue operations with reference to the commissioning of INS Nistar and its implications for maritime security.”(250 words)