Indian Navy to Commission First Indigenous Diving Support Craft DSC A20 on December 16

The Indian Navy will commission DSC A20, the first vessel of its indigenously designed and constructed Diving Support Craft (DSC) series, at Kochi on Tuesday, December 16, in a ceremony led by Vice Admiral Sameer Saxena, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Southern Naval Command. The addition of the new vessel marks a major boost to the Navy’s underwater support and diving operations capability.

Built by Titagarh Rail Systems Limited (TRSL) in Kolkata, DSC A20 is the lead ship in a fleet of five Diving Support Craft ordered by the Ministry of Defence in 2021. Conceived specifically for coastal and harbour-based underwater missions, the vessel has been engineered with advanced diving systems that meet the Navy’s highest safety and efficiency standards.

According to the Ministry of Defence, DSC A20 has been “purpose-built for a wide spectrum of diving and underwater missions,” and features a modern suite of equipment for underwater inspection, salvage assistance, and specialised diving operations. The vessel is based on a catamaran-hull design, offering superior stability, increased deck space, and improved seakeeping—features essential for safe and sustained underwater tasks in varying sea conditions.

The 32.9-metre-long craft displaces around 390 tonnes and is powered by twin engines delivering a combined output of approximately 2,600 horsepower, enabling a service speed of about 12 knots. It can remain deployed for up to 72 hours, carries a crew of about 18, and is fitted with essential navigation, communication, and self-defence systems, including a mount for a 12.7 mm machine gun.

In keeping with India’s indigenous shipbuilding standards, the vessel has been designed and constructed in accordance with the Naval Rules and Regulations of the Indian Register of Shipping (IRS). It underwent extensive hydrodynamic analysis and model testing at the Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL) in Visakhapatnam to ensure optimal operational reliability before its handover to the Navy in September 2025.

The launch of DSC A20 in 2023 and its subsequent delivery two years later mark a smooth progression of the project, which showcases strong coordination between the Indian Navy, domestic shipbuilders, and national research institutions. The remaining four vessels in the DSC series are slated for phased delivery, further expanding the Navy’s specialised support fleet.

Officials said the commissioning of DSC A20 is a significant milestone in the Navy’s drive toward Aatmanirbharta and highlights the success of the ‘Make in India’ initiative in the maritime sector. The vessel will now be based in Kochi and operate under the Southern Naval Command, substantially strengthening the Navy’s operational readiness in coastal waters and enhancing India’s ability to conduct underwater inspections, diving operations, and salvage tasks with greater efficiency and autonomy.