Diving support vessel ‘INS Nipun’ joins Navy fleet

• The Indian Navy commissioned INS Nipun, the second diving support vessel (DSV) of the Nistar Class, at Naval Dockyard in Mumbai on August 31.

• Indigenously designed and constructed by Hindustan Shipyard Limited, Visakhapatnam, INS Nipun is a significant addition to the Indian Navy’s specialist underwater capability. 

• The vessel has been designed and constructed in accordance with Classification Rules of the Indian Register of Shipping (IRS).

• ‘Nistar’, the first indigenously constructed DSV, was delivered to the Indian Navy on July 8, 2025.

• ‘Nipun’ draws the name from Sanskrit signifying “one who is adept, capable, and well versed in a particular discipline”. 

Highlights of INS Nipun:

• The ship has the capacity to support diving operations up to 300 metres. 

• It also has the capability of providing rapid submarine rescue. It can also be deployed for disaster relief and humanitarian operations.

• The vessel is 119.4 metres long with a capacity of 10,500 tonnes.

• 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. 

• Its specialised diving complex, dynamic positioning capability and associated life-support and medical facilities enable the conduct of sustained and complex operations at sea.

• The ship is also capable of supporting submarine rescue operations, further strengthening the Indian Navy’s ability to respond to underwater contingencies.

• Its crest and motto embody the spirit of its specialised role and the men who venture into the depths. The motto, “Far Beneath, Few Beyond”, reflects the resolve, skill and endurance required to operate in one of the most challenging domains of the maritime environment.

• Along with her sister ship INS Nistar, INS Nipun substantially enhances the Navy’s specialist diving, underwater intervention, salvage and submarine rescue support capability.

(The author is a trainer for Civil Services aspirants.)