Kolkata: The fifth ship (DSC A24) of five Diving Support Craft (DSC) Project, was launched on August 01, 2026 at Titagarh, Kolkata (West Bengal) by Kamal Singh in presence of Vice Admiral Gurcharan Singh, Chief of Personnel. The event was conducted with full naval traditions and ceremonial splendour, in presence of senior officials from Indian Navy and Titagarh Rail Systems Limited (TRSL).
The Indian Navy’s spokesperson, announcing the development on X, described it as “Yet another proud milestone for the Indian Navy!”
According to the Navy, the vessel is “equipped with state-of-the-art diving systems and is tailor-made for conducting operational dives.”
The Diving Support Craft are “a testament to engineering excellence and indigenous capability” and are “proud flag bearers of the Make in India initiative, strengthening Indian Navy’s offshore diving capabilities,” the spokesperson further added.
The construction of Diving Support Craft is being undertaken by TRSL, Kolkata. Featuring a catamaran-hull form and an approximate displacement in range of 300 to 400 tons, these ships offer superior stability, enhanced deck area, and improved sea-keeping characteristics, which make them suitable for undertaking Diving operations. Designed and built in accordance with the Naval Rules and Regulations of the Indian Register of Shipping (IRS).
Acknowledging the launch as a proud milestone reflecting years of planning and teamwork, Vice Admiral Gurcharan Singh thanked TNSL, the Indian Navy, the Indian Register of Shipping, and all engineers and workers for their dedication in achieving this milestone with high indigenous content.
With induction of these ships, the Indian Navy’s capabilities in Diving Support, Underwater Inspection, Salvage Assistance, and Coastal Operational Deployment will be augmented. With 70 percent of main and auxiliary equipment sourced from indigenous manufacturers, Diving Support Craft are proud flag bearers of Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiative of Government of India (GoI)/ Ministry of the Defence (MoD).
“The achievement reflects the strength of Indian manufacturing and engineering. He emphasised the company’s commitment to expanding capabilities across the maritime sector to contribute to the nation’s vision of self-reliance and Viksit Bharat,” stated Prithish Chowdhary, Deputy Managing Director of Titagarh Rail Systems Limited.
Cmde Hemant Khatri, Managing Director and CEO of Titagarh Naval Systems Limited, noted that the launch completes the series of five Diving Support Crafts being built for the Indian Navy. He highlighted TNSL’s position as the first private shipyard in West Bengal to build and deliver commissioned vessels for the Indian Navy, expressing focus on delivering reliable platforms while preparing for more advanced defence shipbuilding programmes.
With the Board of Directors, TRSL approving the transfer of the shipbuilding and maritime systems business into Titagarh Naval Systems Limited (TNSL), which holds an approximate order book of ₹500 crore (including taxes). TNSL is advancing its maritime growth strategy by developing a state-of-the-art, 50-acre shipyard at Falta, West Bengal. The new facility, aligned with Industry 4.0 standards, is engineered to handle ships up to 180 metres in length with an annual capacity of 12-16 vessels.
This restructuring allows Titagarh Rail Systems Limited to focus on its core railway systems business while empowering TNSL to pursue aggressive growth in shipbuilding. TNSL is actively exploring partnerships with strategic collaborators and investors to accelerate scaling under various Government of India maritime initiatives.
