Diving Support Craft (DSC) are a series of 5 small-category diving support vessels being built for the Indian Navy by Titagarh Rail Systems Limited. These are designed and equipped with state-of-the-art apparatus to support diving operations in coastal under water environment. The vessels are designed to meet the mission needs of Command Clearance Diving Teams (CCDTs). A contract worth ₹174.77 crore (equivalent to ₹196 crore or US$23 million in 2023) was signed between Titagarh Rail Systems Limited (TRSL) and the Indian Navy on 12 February 2021.[1][2][3] The Indian Navy is expected to receive all five diving support craft in FY2024-25.[4] Diving support vessels are important for both military and commercial diving. They are used for underwater work such as inspecting and maintaining pipelines, well-heads, and mobile platforms. They will be used for providing diving assistance to all ships inside and close to harbour for underwater repair, maintenance and salvage.[5]
| Class overview | |
|---|---|
| Name | DSC class |
| Builders | Titagarh Rail Systems |
| Operators | Indian Navy |
| Cost | |
| Building | 5 |
| Completed | 3 |
| General characteristics | |
| Type | Diving support craft |
| Displacement | 300 t (300 long tons; 330 short tons) |
| Length | 30 m (98 ft) |
| Beam | 12 m (39 ft) |
| Draught | <2.5 m (8 ft 2 in) |
| Speed | 12 kn (22 km/h; 14 mph) |
| Complement | Diving team |
| Armament | 1 × 12.7 mm SRCG |
The ships have been indigenously designed and the systems were tested at Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL) of DRDO.[6] They are 30 m long catamaran hull ships, with a displacement of around 300 tons.[7]
Ships in the class
edit| Pennant | Yard Number | Laid Down | Launched | Commissioning | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Indian Navy
| |||||
| A20 | 325 | 27 January 2022[8] | 31 August 2023[6] | Launched | |
| A21 | 326 | 5 May 2022[3] | 30 October 2023[5][7] | ||
| A22 | 327 | 12 August 2022[9] | Under construction | ||
| A23 | 328 | 17 January 2023[10] | |||
| A24 | 329 | 31 August 2023[6] | |||
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Titagarh Rail Systems rolls out new diving support craft for Indian Navy". The Indian Express. 1 September 2023. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
- ^ "Titagarh Rail Systems launches diving support craft for Indian Navy". The Economic Times. 31 August 2023. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
- ^ a b "Keel Laying of Second Ship – Diving Support Craft At m/s Titagarh Wagons Ltd, Kolkata". Press Information Bureau. 5 May 2022. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
- ^ "Indian Navy Signs Contract for Acquisition of Five Diving Support Craft (DSC)". Press Information Bureau. 12 February 2021.
- ^ a b "Launch of DSC A 21 (Yard 326) second ship of 05 X Diving Support Craft (DSC) project on 30 Oct 23 at M/s Titagarh Rail Systems Limited (TRSl), Kolkata". indiannavy.nic.in. Archived from the original on 7 November 2023.
- ^ a b c "LAUNCH OF 'DSC A 20 (YARD 325)' FIRST SHIP OF 05 x DIVING SUPPORT CRAFT (DSC) PROJECT 31 AUG 23 AT M/S TITAGARH RAIL SYSTEMS (TRSL), KOLKATA". Press Information Bureau. 31 August 2023. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
- ^ a b "LAUNCH OF DSC A 21 (YARD 326) SECOND SHIP OF 05 x DIVING SUPPORT CRAFT (DSC) PROJECT ON 30 OCT 23 AT M/S TITAGARH RAIL SYSTEMS LIMITED (TRSL), KOLKATA". Press Information Bureau. 30 October 2023. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
- ^ "KEEL LAYING OF FIRST OF CLASS – DIVING SUPPORT CRAFT AT M/S TITAGARH WAGONS LTD, KOLKATA". Press Information Bureau. 28 January 2022. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
- ^ "KEEL LAYING OF THIRD SHIP – DIVING SUPPORT CRAFT AT M/S TITAGARH WAGONS LTD, KOLKATA". Press Information Bureau. 12 August 2022. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
- ^ "Keel Laying of Fourth Ship – Diving Support Craft At M/S Titagarh Wagons Ltd, Kolkata". Press Information Bureau. 17 January 2023. Retrieved 1 September 2024.