Navy commissions INS Nipun to support advanced underwater operations

The Indian Navy officially commissioned the INS Nipun on August 31, 2026, at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai. This marks the induction of the second Diving Support Vessel (DSV) of the Nistar-class, enhancing the Navy’s capacity for deep-sea diving, underwater intervention, and submarine rescue operations. The ceremony was presided over by Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, the Chief of the Naval Staff, with notable attendees including Vice Admiral Sanjay Vatsayan, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Naval Command, senior naval officers, representatives from the Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL), veterans, and families of the commissioning crew. INS Nipun is an indigenously designed and constructed vessel built by HSL in Visakhapatnam. According to the Ministry of Defence, the ship represents a major milestone in India’s pursuit of self-reliance in defense manufacturing. The vessel is specifically tailored for complex underwater missions, including saturation, air, and heliox diving. It features remotely operated underwater systems for inspection and intervention, along with specialized diving complexes, dynamic positioning capabilities, life-support systems, and medical facilities. These attributes allow the ship to conduct prolonged operations in harsh maritime environments. The induction of INS Nipun complements its sister ship, INS Nistar, which has been operating under the Eastern Naval Command since its commissioning in July of the previous year. Together, the two vessels provide the Indian Navy with a dual-coast presence for deep-sea diving, underwater intervention, salvage, and submarine rescue. This strategic deployment ensures the Navy can respond effectively to underwater emergencies across both coasts of India. Admiral Krishna Swaminathan emphasized the significance of the commissioning, highlighting the seamless collaboration between the Indian Navy, HSL, and the broader domestic industrial ecosystem. During sea trials, the vessel demonstrated the effectiveness of its diving systems in a single mission, showcasing India’s technical expertise and engineering capabilities. He underscored the importance of maintaining combat readiness amidst an increasingly competitive maritime landscape and potential threats to global shipping routes. The Chief of Naval Staff pointed out that the unique capabilities of INS Nipun are rare among global navies. These include the ability to perform submarine rescue operations for both the Indian Navy and allied nations, reinforcing India’s status as a preferred submarine rescue partner in the region. Additionally, the vessel supports specialized underwater salvage and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts, further expanding its utility beyond traditional naval roles. The commissioning ceremony concluded with the formal entry of INS Nipun into active service through the raising of the Commissioning Pennant. The ship’s emblem and motto, “Far Beneath, Few Beyond,” encapsulate the skill, endurance, and determination needed to operate in one of the most challenging aspects of the maritime environment. The vessel’s name, derived from Sanskrit, signifies someone who is adept and knowledgeable in a specific field. Built to a length of approximately 118 meters and displacing over 8,500 tonnes, INS Nipun incorporates nearly 75 percent indigenous components. This highlights India’s increasing capability to design and build advanced naval platforms domestically. The ship is equipped with a 15-tonne subsea crane, dynamic positioning systems, and Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) capable of functioning at depths up to 1,000 meters. Central to its role is serving as a mother ship for Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicles, which can dock directly with a distressed submarine’s escape hatch to evacuate trapped personnel during emergencies. The ship also includes comprehensive medical facilities, such as an eight-bed hospital, an intensive care unit, an operating theater, and hyperbaric treatment rooms, essential for managing the unique health challenges associated with deep-sea diving. With the commissioning of INS Nipun, the Indian Navy now possesses a fully developed two-coast capability for submarine rescue and deep-sea intervention, ensuring robust preparedness for underwater contingencies.