Titagarh Rail Systems arm launches fourth diving support craft A23 for Indian Navy

DSC A 23 , the fourth vessel in a five-ship Diving Support Craft (DSC) series, was launched on 19 April 2026 at Titagarh, Kolkata , by Mrs Deepa Sivakumar in the presence of Vice Admiral B Sivakumar , Chief of Materiel. The event was conducted with full naval traditions and ceremonial splendour , with senior officials of the Indian Navy and M/s Titagarh Rail Systems Limited (TRSL) in attendance. The launch has been formally confirmed through a Ministry of Defence (PIB) release .

The vessel is being built by TRSL under India’s indigenous shipbuilding programme. It features a 30-metre catamaran hull design with a displacement of around 380 tons, providing enhanced stability, larger working deck space, and improved sea-keeping capabilities for coastal and harbour diving operations .

The craft is designed and constructed in accordance with Indian Register of Shipping (IRS) regulations and has undergone extensive model testing and hydrodynamic analysis at NSTL, Visakhapatnam , ensuring operational reliability and safety.

Newly reported details confirm that DSC A 23, like its sister ships, will also function as a training platform for naval diving personnel , in addition to roles such as underwater inspection and salvage support operations . The broader DSC programme strengthens India’s underwater operational readiness and coastal deployment capability .

The project is part of a contract signed in 2021 for five vessels, all built by TRSL, with earlier units already launched/commissioned. Notably, the programme features nearly 70% indigenous equipment sourcing , reinforcing the Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiatives of the Government of India and the Ministry of Defence.