The Indian Navy on 31 August commissioned INS Nipun, the second Diving Support Vessel (DSV) built by Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL), Visakhapatnam, significantly bolstering the force's deep-sea diving, underwater intervention, and submarine rescue capabilities. Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Krishna Swaminathan presided over the commissioning ceremony.

What INS Nipun Brings to the Fleet

INS Nipun is purpose-built for specialised underwater operations, including saturation diving and submarine rescue — roles that demand dedicated platforms rarely found in most regional navies. With more than 75 per cent indigenous content, the vessel represents one of the most locally sourced advanced maritime platforms inducted into the Indian Navy in recent years.

The ship is equipped to function as a mothership for submarine rescue systems, allowing it to deploy rescue assets in emergencies involving submarines in distress. Its saturation-diving capability enables trained divers to undertake prolonged underwater missions with specialised life-support equipment, extending operational reach into deeper waters than conventional diving vessels permit.

Commanding Officer Explains the Vessel's Role

Captain L.S. Subramanian, INS Nipun's Commanding Officer, underscored the vessel's unique position within the Navy's inventory. 'It is one of the indigenous platforms with more than 75 per cent indigenous content. This ship is one of its kind in the Navy, built for deep-diving operations and submarine rescue capabilities,' Captain Subramanian said.

Asked about the ship's weapons systems, Captain Subramanian reframed the question: 'When you talk about weapons, divers are our weapon and our rescue system. This ship is one of its kind, wherein we operate primarily for deep-diving operations.' He added that all equipment aboard has been fitted specifically for saturation diving and to serve as a platform for embarking submarine rescue systems.

Indigenous Shipbuilding Milestone

INS Nipun is the second DSV delivered by HSL to the Indian Navy, following the precedent set by the first vessel in the class. The commissioning reinforces the Navy's strategic push toward indigenously built specialised platforms, aligning with the broader national objective of reducing dependence on foreign-built defence assets. Notably, HSL — a public sector shipyard under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways — has been steadily expanding its portfolio of naval construction beyond conventional surface combatants.

This comes amid the Indian Navy's sustained effort to modernise its underwater warfare and rescue infrastructure, a priority that has grown sharper as India's submarine fleet expands and operational deployments in the Indian Ocean Region intensify.

Significance for Underwater Emergency Response

The induction of INS Nipun directly strengthens the Navy's ability to respond to underwater emergencies — a capability that has gained strategic salience following high-profile submarine accidents globally in recent years. A dedicated DSV with saturation-diving and rescue-system deployment capability means the Navy can sustain complex underwater operations for extended durations, rather than relying on improvised or borrowed assets.

With INS Nipun now part of the active fleet, the Indian Navy's specialised maritime support infrastructure takes a meaningful step forward — and attention will turn to how quickly the vessel's crew can be operationally certified for the full range of its deep-water missions.