The Indian Navy recently commissioned DSC A23, the fourth of five Diving Support Craft (DSC) constructed locally, at a ceremony in Titagarh, Kolkata. Led by Deepa Sivakumar, the event was graced by Vice Admiral B Sivakumar, Chief of Materiel, and conducted with full naval traditions and ceremonial grandeur. These ships, featuring a 30m long catamaran-hull form and a displacement of approximately 380 tons, offer enhanced stability, deck area, and sea-keeping characteristics, ideal for diving operations in coastal waters and harbors.
The Diving Support Craft, designed and constructed in compliance with the Naval Rules and Regulations of the Indian Register of Shipping (IRS), underwent thorough Model Testing and Hydrodynamic Analysis at the Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL) in Visakhapatnam. The induction of these ships will bolster the Navy’s capabilities in diving support, underwater inspection, salvage assistance, and coastal operational deployment. With 70% of the main and auxiliary equipment sourced from local manufacturers, the Diving Support Craft stands as a testament to the Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiatives of the Government of India and the Ministry of Defence.
In a similar vein, in December last year, the Navy commissioned DSC A20, the first of the five Diving Support Craft, also built locally and stationed in Kochi. The ceremony, overseen by Vice Admiral Sameer Saxena and hosted by Vice Admiral Sanjay Sadhu, witnessed the presence of senior naval officers and representatives from Titagarh Rail System Limited (TRSL), Kolkata, the builders of the craft. The contract for constructing these Diving Support Craft was formalized between the Ministry of Defence and TRSL on February 12, 2021.
