(source : ANI) ( Photo Credit : ani)
India’s latest homegrown diving support vessel, INS Nistar, has docked in Singapore for the multinational Exercise Pacific Reach 2025, a key international event focused on submarine rescue operations.
The ship, built entirely in India at Hindustan Shipyard Limited, arrived at Changi Naval Base on September 14 for its first overseas visit. Commissioned just two months ago on July 18, INS Nistar marks a big step toward India’s self-reliance in shipbuilding, or Aatmanirbharta, with more than 80% of its parts sourced locally. At 120 meters long and weighing 10,000 tons, it stretches to 134 meters when loaded with its Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle (DSRV).
Commanding Officer Amitsubhro Banerji told reporters that INS Nistar pulls double duty. “It handles deep-sea diving operations to clear underwater obstacles and acts as a mothership for the DSRV during submarine rescues,” he explained. The vessel comes equipped with advanced tools like side-scan sonar, remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) for observation and work, and comprehensive deep-sea diving systems.
Captain Vikas Gautam, who leads the Submarine Rescue Unit East from India’s Eastern Naval Command, shared his excitement about joining the exercise. “It’s a huge honor to take part in XPR25, the world’s most comprehensive submarine rescue drill,” Gautam said. “This shows our strong commitment to protecting submariners—not just in the Indian Navy, but across the globe. We’re here in Singapore with INS Nistar and our full DSRV team, ready to collaborate.”
Hosted by Singapore and kicking off on September 15, Exercise Pacific Reach 2025 draws over 40 countries as participants or observers. The event splits into two parts. The harbor phase, running through September 21, features expert talks on submarine rescue tech, medical workshops, and visits between crews from different nations.
From September 21 to 29, things get hands-on during the sea phase in the South China Sea. INS Nistar and the Indian team will team up with others for real-world simulations of intervention and rescue missions, boosting global maritime cooperation and India’s growing role in submarine safety.
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