Singapore: The Indian Navy is participating in Exercise Pacific Reach 2025 (XPR 25), considered an extremely prestigious international submarine rescue drill, with its indigenous diving support vessel (DSV) INS Nistar.
INS Nistar is the first of two DSVs being built by Hindustan Shipyard Limited and was commissioned on July 18. The specialised ship is 120 meters in length and has a displacement of 10,000 tons. With the Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle (DSRV) on board, the ship’s length increases to 134 meters.
The ship with its Side Scan Sonar, work and observation class ROVs and expansive deep sea diving systems will be carrying out the role of mothership (MoSHIP) for the DSRV.
More than 40 nations are participating in XPR 25, being hosted by Singapore. The harbour phase has been completed and the sea phase starts from Sunday when the INS Nistar would be able to display its capabilities.
“INS Nistar is a DSV with two main roles. The first one is to carry out diving operations in deep seas, to the clear depths… The second one is to carry out duties of mothership for the DSRV and rescues of submarine operations…,” the ship’s commanding officer Amitsubhro Banerji told ANI.
During the sea phase, INS Nistar and the Sea Rescue Unit, East (SRU-E) of the Indian Navy will be engaging in multiple intervention and rescue operations in the South China Sea.
“It’s a matter of great pride to be participating in XPR 25, which is globally recognised as the most comprehensive and collaborative exercise dedicated to submarine rescue in the world… Our presence here in the exercise reflects upon our enduring commitment towards safeguarding the lives of submariners, not just of our Navy but also of other navies who may require assistance at sea… We, from the SRU-E are presently here exercising in Singapore, embarked on INS Nistar. The unit is embarked along with its Deep Submergence Rescue vessel (DSRV)…,” Captain Vikas Gautam, officer-in-charge of SRU-E, Eastern Naval Command, told the news agency.
