What is INS Nipun, why does India need deep-diving vessels, and are they on schedule?
The Indian Navy has commissioned INS Nipun, a specialized Diving Support Vessel designed for deep-sea rescue, salvage, and underwater intervention. Built by Hindustan Shipyard Limited, the vessel enhances India's indigenous naval capabilities for complex maritime operations.
Why it matters
The induction of specialized naval vessels is critical for maritime security and the ability to conduct rescue operations in deep-sea environments.
The commissioning of INS Nipun , the Indian Navy’s second Diving Support Vessel (DSV) of the Nistar class, marks a significant strengthening of India’s ability to operate in one of the most challenging domains of maritime warfare beneath the sea.
Commissioned at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai on Monday (August 31, 2026), INS Nipun is a specialised vessel designed for deep-sea diving, underwater intervention, salvage and submarine rescue operations. Indigenously designed and constructed by Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL), Visakhapatnam, the vessel represents another step in India’s efforts to develop advanced naval capabilities and reduce dependence on foreign suppliers for complex military platforms.
Unlike destroyers, frigates or aircraft carriers, INS Nipun is not designed primarily for combat. Its role is to support highly specialised operations that require divers, remotely operated underwater systems, sophisticated life-support infrastructure and medical facilities.
ALSO WATCH INS NIPUN: India’s new deep-sea rescue vessel
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