Indian Navy’s first indigenous diving support craft set to be commissioned on December 16
The ship will be officially commissioned in the presence of Vice Admiral Sameer Saxena, Flag Officer Commanding Southern Naval Forces. According to the Navy, the event will mark the addition of a significant operational asset to the Navy’s inventory and will increase the Navy’s diving and underwater support capabilities.
DSC A20 is the lead ship in the series of five Diving Support Vessels built by M/s Titagarh Rail Systems Limited (TRSL), Kolkata.
“Specifically built for a wide range of diving and underwater missions in coastal waters, the ship is equipped with advanced, state-of-the-art diving systems that meet the highest standards of safety and operational efficiency,” according to an official statement from the Ministry of Defense.
The ship, which has a catamaran hull form, offers superior stability, increased deck space and improved seakeeping properties and has a displacement of approximately 390 tons.
The DSC is designed and manufactured in accordance with the Naval Rules and Regulations of the Indian Maritime Registry (IRS); DSC A20 has undergone extensive hydrodynamic analysis and model testing at the Marine Science and Technology Laboratory (NSTL), Visakhapatnam, ensuring optimum performance and reliability.
The entry into service of DSC A20 marks a milestone in India’s quest for Aatmanirbharta and exemplifies the success of the ‘Make in India’ initiative in the maritime domain. The platform represents seamless collaboration between the Indian Navy, the indigenous shipbuilding industry and national research institutions in the delivery of specialized, technologically advanced ships.
With its induction, the Indian Navy’s capacity in diving support, underwater survey, rescue assistance and coastal operational deployment will be significantly strengthened. DSC A20 will be based in Kochi and will serve under the Southern Naval Command.
