Daijiworld Media Network - Kochi

Kochi, Dec 16: The Indian Navy on Tuesday commissioned DSC A20, the first of five indigenously built Diving Support Crafts, at Naval Base Kochi, significantly enhancing its capabilities in diving support, underwater inspections, salvage operations, and coastal missions. The vessel will be based in Kochi and operate under the Southern Naval Command.

The commissioning ceremony was presided over by Vice Admiral Sameer Saxena, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Naval Command, and hosted by Vice Admiral Sanjay Sadhu, Controller of Warship Production and Acquisition. Senior naval officers and representatives of Titagarh Rail System Limited (TRSL), Kolkata—the company that built the craft—were also present.

The contract for constructing the five DSCs was signed between the Ministry of Defence and TRSL on February 12, 2021. Hydrodynamic analysis and model testing were carried out at the Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL) in Visakhapatnam. The DSC A20, a 390-ton catamaran-hull ship built according to Indian Register of Shipping (IRS) standards, is equipped with state-of-the-art diving equipment for underwater repairs, harbor clearance, and critical coastal missions.

The induction of DSC A20 underscores the Navy’s commitment to indigenous shipbuilding and aligns with the Government’s vision of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’. It also highlights successful collaboration between the Indian Navy, domestic shipbuilding industry, and national research organisations in delivering technologically advanced vessels, reducing reliance on imports and strengthening self-reliance in the maritime sector.