Mumbai: The Indian Navy on Monday commissioned INS Nipun, the second indigenous Nistar-class Diving Support Vessel (DSV), at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai, significantly strengthening the forceโs deep-sea diving, underwater intervention and submarine rescue capabilities. The commissioning ceremony was presided over by Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Krishna Swaminathan.
Indigenously designed and constructed by Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL), Visakhapatnam, INS Nipun is a specialised platform built to support complex underwater operations. Its induction gives the Navy a dedicated diving support vessel on the western coast, complementing sister ship INS Nistar, which operates from the Eastern Naval Command. Together, the two vessels provide the Navy with a two-ship, two-coast capability for specialised deep-sea operations and submarine rescue.
#WATCH || ๐๐ง๐๐ข๐๐ง ๐๐๐ฏ๐ฒ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐ข๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ฉ๐ฎ๐ง, ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฌ๐๐๐จ๐ง๐ ๐๐ข๐ฏ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฉ๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ ๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐๐ฅ (๐๐๐) ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ข๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ซ-๐๐ฅ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ, ๐๐ญ ๐๐๐ฏ๐๐ฅ ๐๐จ๐๐ค๐ฒ๐๐ซ๐, ๐๐ฎ๐ฆ๐๐๐ข.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Chief ofโฆ https://t.co/qTTPU6w3rc pic.twitter.com/hPgtK9RUBK
โ All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) August 31, 2026
Advanced platform for underwater operations
INS Nipun is equipped with advanced diving systems and has the capability to undertake deep-sea saturation diving. A side diving stage enables specialised diving operations, while remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) can assist with diver monitoring, underwater intervention and salvage activities.
The vessel is also designed to serve as a mother ship for the Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle (DSRV). In the event of a submarine emergency, it can support rescue operations and evacuation of personnel, providing an important additional layer to the Navyโs submarine rescue preparedness.
The ship incorporates modern navigation, platform-management and precision station-keeping systems, along with dedicated diving, underwater intervention and medical facilities. These systems allow it to remain accurately positioned while supporting demanding underwater missions.
#Nipun is set to be commissioned into the #IndianNavy today, with the Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, presiding over the ceremony.
The commissioning marks another significant milestone in strengthening Indiaโs maritime capabilities.#INSNipunโฆ https://t.co/4jUq0RniSc pic.twitter.com/g7fOqOFByq
โ SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) August 31, 2026
Nearly 80% indigenous content
The commissioning also marks another milestone in India’s drive towards self-reliance in defence shipbuilding. The vessel has nearly 75โ80% indigenous content, according to official and defence-sector sources.
INS Nipun was delivered to the Indian Navy by HSL on July 30, 2026, after extensive outfitting and trials. The vessel is approximately 119.4 metres long, has a displacement of around 10,500 tonnes, and can support diving operations to depths of up to 300 metres.
The ship also has significant medical and humanitarian capabilities, allowing it to support disaster-relief and other emergency missions in addition to its core underwater role.
Strengthening India’s underwater preparedness
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Admiral Krishna Swaminathan said that INS Nipun would be a significant addition to the Navy’s specialised underwater capabilities required for multi-domain deep-water operations.
Its induction is particularly significant because submarine rescue and deep-sea intervention are highly specialised capabilities requiring dedicated platforms, trained personnel and sophisticated equipment.
With INS Nipun now joining INS Nistar, the Indian Navy has strengthened its ability to conduct deep-sea diving, underwater intervention and submarine rescue operations across both India’s eastern and western maritime approaches.
The commissioning of INS Nipun therefore represents more than the addition of another naval vesselโit underlines India’s growing ability to design and build specialised platforms domestically for some of the Navy’s most demanding underwater missions.
