INS Nipun: India’s Indigenous Diving Support Vessel and Key Capabilities

Context:

The Indian Navy is set to commission INS Nipun, the second indigenously designed and built Diving Support Vessel (DSV) of the Nistar-class, on 31 August 2026 at Naval Dockyard, Mumbai.

What is a Diving Support Vessel (DSV)?

• • • A Diving Support Vessel is a specialised naval platform designed to support complex underwater operations. It acts as a base for divers, underwater vehicles and rescue systems and can operate for prolonged periods at sea.
    • The Nistar-class DSVs were designed for deep-sea diving and submarine rescue operations. When equipped with a Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle (DSRV), they can function as a mother ship for rescuing and evacuating personnel from distressed submarines.

Indigenous Design and Construction:

• • • INS Nipun has been indigenously designed and constructed by Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL), Visakhapatnam, in accordance with the classification rules of the Indian Register of Shipping (IRS).
    • The vessel has around 75% indigenous content, reflecting India's growing capability in specialised naval shipbuilding and supporting the objectives of Aatmanirbhar Bharat. The project also involved more than 120 Indian MSME vendors, promoting domestic industrial participation.

Key Capabilities:

• • • Deep-Sea Diving: Equipped with advanced diving systems and capable of deep-sea saturation diving.
    • Underwater Intervention: Supports complex underwater operations and diver monitoring.
    • ROVs: Remotely Operated Vehicles enhance underwater inspection, monitoring and salvage operations.
    • Submarine Rescue: Can serve as the mother ship for DSRVs to rescue personnel from distressed submarines.
    • Side Diving Stage: Enables specialised diving operations.
    • Medical and Support Facilities: Provides integrated support for personnel involved in demanding underwater missions.

About INS Nistar and INS Nipun:

• • • INS Nistar was the first indigenously designed and constructed Diving Support Vessel and was commissioned in July 2025. It was also built by HSL and is designed for deep-sea diving and submarine rescue operations.
    • With Nistar and Nipun, India is strengthening its specialised underwater support infrastructure and reducing dependence on foreign platforms for critical naval operations.

Strategic Significance:

• • • Enhances Submarine Rescue Capability: Submarine accidents can involve extreme depths and require rapid, specialised rescue systems. DSVs provide a dedicated platform for deploying rescue vehicles and supporting underwater rescue operations.
    • Strengthens Maritime Security: The vessels improve India's ability to conduct underwater surveillance, inspection, salvage and rescue across its maritime areas of interest.
    • Promotes Aatmanirbharta: Indigenous construction of specialised vessels demonstrates the growing technological capabilities of India's defence shipbuilding ecosystem and supports Make in India and Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
    • Strengthens Blue-Water Naval Capability: Deep-sea support vessels enable the Navy to undertake complex operations far from the coastline and contribute to India's broader maritime security and blue-water naval capabilities.

Conclusion:

The commissioning of INS Nipun marks another step towards building a technologically advanced and self-reliant Indian Navy. Its specialised capabilities in deep-sea diving, underwater intervention, salvage and submarine rescue will enhance India's maritime preparedness while strengthening indigenous defence manufacturing.