The Indian Navy has commissioned INS Nipun, a specialised Diving Support Vessel (DSV), at Naval Dockyard, Mumbai, strengthening the service’s ability to undertake demanding underwater missions and respond to submarine emergencies. The vessel entered service on 31 August 2026 in the presence of senior naval leadership and representatives of Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL).
Nipun is the second vessel of the Nistar class and has been developed specifically for operations that require sophisticated diving and underwater support systems. The ship has been designed and built domestically by Hindustan Shipyard Limited in Visakhapatnam, highlighting the country’s expanding capacity to produce specialised naval platforms within India.
The vessel was delivered to the Indian Navy on 30 July 2026 after completing its outfitting and trials. Its induction follows the commissioning of the class’s first ship, INS Nistar, and expands the Navy’s specialised assets for operations beneath the sea.
A major strength of INS Nipun is its dedicated diving capability. According to the Ministry of Defence, the ship is equipped to conduct deep-sea saturation diving, along with other diving operations. A dedicated diving stage and advanced equipment allow personnel to undertake missions at depth, while onboard systems provide support for prolonged underwater activity.
The ship is also fitted with Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) that can assist in underwater surveillance, diver monitoring and salvage work. These capabilities make Nipun useful not only during planned diving missions but also during operations involving underwater objects, wreckage and recovery tasks.
Another important function is its role in submarine rescue. INS Nipun can serve as the mother ship for a Deep Submergence Rescue Vessel (DSRV), which can be deployed to evacuate personnel from a submarine in an emergency. This capability gives the Navy a dedicated surface platform to support complex rescue missions involving submarines operating underwater.
The commissioning of Nipun also carries significance for India’s defence-industrial capabilities. The vessel has been developed indigenously, with the Defence Ministry describing its induction as another step towards Aatmanirbharta in defence shipbuilding. The earlier delivery announcement stated that the vessel has nearly 75 percent indigenous content, reflecting domestic participation in the specialised platform’s construction.
Beyond submarine rescue and diving, INS Nipun can contribute to salvage operations and other maritime support missions, giving the Navy a flexible platform for specialised underwater requirements. Its induction adds another layer to India’s ability to operate, investigate and respond in the difficult deep-sea environment.
With INS Nipun now commissioned, the Indian Navy has further expanded its specialist underwater fleet. The vessel is expected to play an important role in maintaining operational preparedness for deep-sea diving, underwater intervention and submarine rescue missions while also demonstrating the growing maturity of India’s indigenous naval shipbuilding capabilities.
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