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A New Era Of Submarine Rescue Begins With INS Nipun
New Delhi: The Indian Navy has commissioned INS Nipun, a state-of-the-art Diving Support Vessel (DSV) designed to enhance India’s deep-sea rescue operations, underwater intervention missions and submarine safety capabilities. The induction of this advanced vessel marks a significant leap in the Navy’s ability to respond to complex maritime emergencies beneath the ocean surface.
Commissioned at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai in the presence of Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, INS Nipun has joined the fleet as the second vessel of the indigenous Nistar-class Diving Support Vessel series. Its entry strengthens India’s underwater operational readiness and provides the Navy with enhanced capabilities for submarine rescue, deep-sea diving and specialised maritime missions.
Built as a dedicated underwater support platform, INS Nipun will serve as a critical asset during submarine emergencies, allowing rescue teams to operate in some of the most challenging ocean environments. The vessel is equipped to support Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicles (DSRVs), specialised systems capable of reaching distressed submarines and assisting in the evacuation of trapped crew members.
The commissioning of INS Nipun gives the Indian Navy a two-coast deep-sea rescue capability, with INS Nistar already deployed under the Eastern Naval Command. While INS Nistar supports operations on the eastern seaboard, INS Nipun will strengthen the Navy’s presence and response capability along India’s western maritime front.
Designed and constructed by Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL), Visakhapatnam, INS Nipun represents India’s growing expertise in building advanced naval platforms with indigenous technology.
The vessel was delivered to the Indian Navy on July 30, 2026, after completing extensive outfitting, technical evaluations and sea trials. Nearly 75 per cent of INS Nipun’s components are indigenous, highlighting India’s progress towards self-reliance in defence manufacturing under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
The name Nipun, derived from Sanskrit, means skilled, capable and proficient. True to its name, the vessel has been designed to perform highly specialised underwater operations requiring precision, advanced technology and operational expertise.
INS Nipun measures approximately 118 metres in length and has a displacement of more than 8,500 tonnes. The advanced vessel has been designed to support a wide range of underwater activities, including deep-sea diving, submarine assistance, underwater inspection, salvage operations and maintenance of critical maritime infrastructure.
The vessel can support saturation diving operations at depths of up to 300 metres, allowing specialised divers to conduct prolonged missions in extreme underwater conditions. It is also equipped with side diving stage facilities for operations at around 75 metres depth.
Advanced navigation systems, dynamic positioning technology and platform management systems allow INS Nipun to maintain precise positioning during complex underwater missions, even in challenging sea conditions.
One of the most important capabilities of INS Nipun is its role in submarine rescue operations. The vessel can function as a mother ship for Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicles, providing crucial support during submarine accidents or underwater emergencies.
In a crisis situation, rescue vehicles operating from INS Nipun can connect with a damaged submarine’s escape hatch and help evacuate sailors trapped deep beneath the ocean.
The vessel is also equipped with Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs), which can conduct underwater surveillance, diver monitoring, inspection and salvage operations in areas that may be too dangerous for human divers.
Deep-sea diving involves serious medical challenges due to extreme pressure changes and underwater conditions. To address these risks, INS Nipun has been equipped with specialised healthcare facilities.
The vessel includes an eight-bed hospital, intensive care facilities, an operating theatre and hyperbaric medical systems designed to treat diving-related emergencies, including decompression sickness and high-pressure injuries. This combination of advanced rescue technology and medical infrastructure makes INS Nipun a complete underwater operations platform.
The commissioning of INS Nipun comes at a time when underwater domain awareness has become increasingly important for maritime powers around the world. The vessel will support missions involving underwater surveillance, protection of critical infrastructure such as subsea cables and pipelines, salvage operations and specialised diving tasks across India’s maritime zones.
With growing strategic competition in the Indian Ocean region, INS Nipun will enhance the Indian Navy’s ability to protect national maritime interests and respond rapidly to underwater challenges.
The induction of INS Nipun reflects India’s expanding naval capabilities and the growing strength of its domestic defence manufacturing ecosystem. From advanced warships to specialised support vessels, Indian shipyards are increasingly contributing to the development of modern naval assets. With its advanced rescue systems, indigenous design and deep-sea operational capabilities, INS Nipun has emerged as a crucial addition to the Indian Navy’s fleet, a silent guardian designed to operate where few vessels can reach.
