The Indian Navy has launched DSC A24, the fifth and final vessel under its five-ship Diving Support Craft (DSC) project, at the Titagarh shipyard in Kolkata. The launch marks an important milestone in India’s indigenous naval shipbuilding programme and is expected to strengthen the Navy’s underwater operational capabilities.
DSC A24 Launch Ceremony
On August 1, 2026, DSC A24 also known as Yard 329 was side launched into the Hooghly River at around3.05 pm. The naval ceremonial was held in presence of Vice Admiral Gurcharan Singh, Chief of Personnel and senior officers of Navy and Titagarh Rail Systems Limited.
The ceremonial naming and launching were performed by Mrs Kamal Singh, wife of Vice Admiral Gurcharan Singh. The event was attended by about 200 guests, including naval personnel, shipyard representatives, engineers and industry officials.
The vessel has been built by Titagarh Rail Systems Limited’s wholly owned arm Titagarh Naval Systems Limited at its facility in Kolkata. DSC A24 : All 5 vessels of the project launched.
Designed for Underwater Operations
The Diving Support Craft have been developed as catamaran-hull vessels—a design well known to offer greater stability, more deck area and better sea-keeping performance than traditional monohull boats; advantage. All vessels displace around 300–400 tonnes.
Vessels are being constructed as per the Navy Rules and Regulations of Indian Register of Shipping. They are primarily based on the Centre’s mission as to assist Command Clearance Diving Teams of Indian Navy that operate specialist underwater missions in harbours, costal and near-shore environments.
The DSCs are expected to perform a wide range of tasks, including:
- Diving support for naval clearance-diving teams.
- Underwater inspection of ships, harbour structures and other installations.
- Repair and maintenance assistance.
- Salvage and recovery operations.
- Coastal and near-shore operational deployment.
- Training of naval diving personnel.
The craft will function as mobile support platforms for divers, allowing specialised teams to conduct underwater activities with greater flexibility and operational readiness.
Indigenous Content
It is one of the largest projects under Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India by the government. Some 70% of the principal and auxiliary equipment on board the vessels is locally manufactured.
This high local content is in a context where Indian shipyards, engineering companies and defence equipment manufacturers have come of age. It will also reduce dependency on foreign suppliers for critical systems and spur an Indian maritime-defence manufacturing ecosystem.
Vice Admiral Gurcharan Singh termed the launch as output of many years of planning, engineering endeavours and teamwork. He added that the vessel can be manufactured ‘within India’ via partnership between Indian Navy and Indian industry.
Role of Titagarh Naval Systems
The project is a major milestone for Titagarh Naval Systems Limited and the ship building chain in eastern India. The company has claimed that it is the first privately-owned shipyard in West Bengal to construct and deliver navy-commissioned vessels.
Titagarh Naval Systems has also proposed a new shipyard on a 50-acre site at Falta in West Bengal. The facility is expected to help meet domestic and international shipbuilding needs and provide the company with additional capabilities for more specialised maritime platforms.
The shipbuilding facility, with next-gen automation and Industry 4.0 standards, is being developed by the company; it stated. It is capable of building ships up to 180 metres long, with a projected capacity of 12-16 vessels a year.
Strengthening Naval Capability
The five-vessel DSC programme will enhance the capacity of Underwater operations of Indian Navy in Ports, Naval Bases and Coastal Waters. Diving Support Craft is especially useful for the missions in which divers are needed to inspect undersea structures, assist with repairs or recovery of items from the bottom of the ocean.
Their stable catamaran design and large deck area can create a secure, comfortable place of work on this larger assistant and an excellent working platform for diving teams and equipment. The vessels will also be used as training platforms to enhance the readiness of naval personnel engaged in diving missions.
The vessels are not meant to supplement frontline warships. They do not, however, directly undertake high-end tasks; rather they offer specialist support to keep larger naval units, ports and underwater teams capability up for maintenance/inspection/salvage/clearing.
Five-Ship Programme
DSC A24 is the last of five vessels in a batch being built by Titagarh for the Indian Navy. Completion of the launch program showcases the shipbuilder’s capacity to design and build a succession of complex vessels under an indigenous defense contract.
The programme also showcases the increasing role of private-sector yards in Indian naval modernisation. In addition to the usual public-sector shipyards, private companies are also involved in the construction of patrol vessels, support ships, research vessels and other maritime platforms.
Strategic Significance
The launch of DSC A24 carries significance beyond the addition of a single support vessel. It strengthens India’s ability to design, construct and equip specialised naval platforms domestically while encouraging greater participation from Indian manufacturers.
The project supports several national objectives:
- Increasing self-reliance in defence production.
- Expanding private-sector participation in naval shipbuilding.
- Creating demand for Indian marine equipment suppliers.
- Improving the Navy’s underwater inspection and salvage capabilities.
- Developing skilled manpower in ship design, engineering and construction.
- Supporting India’s long-term maritime and defence ambitions.
As the Indian Navy continues to expand its fleet and modernise its infrastructure, specialised support vessels such as DSC A24 will play an important role in maintaining operational readiness across India’s coastal and harbour environments.
Conclusion
DSC A24 is the fifth of its class and marks the completion of Indian Navy’s Diving Support Craft project as well as another milestone in India’s indigenous shipbuilding programme. The vessel will be employed for diving, underwater inspection, repair, maintenance, salvage and coastal operations and has a catamaran design with an approximate 300–400 tonne displacement and about 70% indigenous equipment content.
The project embodies the increasing synergy of the Indian Navy and the domestic industry and also meets India′s larger strategic drive for self-reliance in defence manufacturing. These vessels are likely to boost the Navy’s underwater operational readiness while also supporting the building of India’s indigenous industrial base.