The Indian Navy on Saturday launched DSC A24, the fifth and final vessel under the Diving Support Craft (DSC) Project, at Titagarh in West Bengal, marking the completion of the five-ship programme aimed at strengthening the Navy’s underwater operational capabilities.
The vessel was launched in the presence of Vice Admiral Gurcharan Singh, Chief of Personnel, at a ceremony conducted with full naval traditions. Senior officials of the Indian Navy and representatives of M/s Titagarh Rail Systems Limited (TRSL) attended the event.
The Diving Support Craft are being constructed by TRSL at its Kolkata shipyard. Designed with a catamaran-hull configuration and an approximate displacement of 300 to 400 tonnes, the vessels offer enhanced stability, larger deck space and improved sea-keeping characteristics, making them well-suited for diving operations.
The ships have been designed and built in accordance with the Naval Rules and Regulations of the Indian Register of Shipping (IRS).
According to the Ministry of Defence (MoD), the induction of these Diving Support Craft will significantly enhance the Indian Navy’s capabilities in diving support, underwater inspection, salvage assistance and coastal operational deployment.
The project also reflects the government’s push for indigenous defence manufacturing, with around 70 per cent of the main and auxiliary equipment sourced from domestic manufacturers. The ministry said the vessels are a strong example of the Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiatives in the defence sector.
