The Indian Navy commissioned INS Nipun, the second Diving Support Vessel (DSV) of the Nistar Class, at Naval Dockyard, Mumbai, on 31 Aug 2026, marking a significant enhancement of the Navy’s deep-sea diving, underwater intervention and submarine rescue capabilities.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Krishna Swaminathan along with the Fleet Commander of the Western Naval Command, Vice Admiral Sanjay Vatsayan were present at the commissioning ceremony.
Indigenously designed and constructed by Hindustan Shipyard Limited, Visakhapatnam, INS Nipun is a significant addition to the Indian Navy’s specialist underwater capability.
Her induction demonstrates India’s growing capability to design and build technologically complex specialist naval platforms and is another significant step towards made-in-India concept in defence manufacturing.
INS Nipun is a purpose-built platform designed primarily for deep-sea diving and underwater operations.
The ship is capable of supporting saturation, air and heliox diving and is equipped with remotely operated underwater systems for inspection and intervention.
Her specialised diving complex, dynamic positioning capability and associated life-support and medical facilities enable sustained and complex operations at sea.
INS Nipun is also capable of supporting submarine rescue operations, significantly strengthening the Indian Navy’s ability to respond to underwater contingencies.
Along with her sister ship INS Nistar, the ship substantially enhances the Navy’s specialist capability in diving, underwater intervention, salvage and submarine rescue.
