INS Nipun Commissioned to Strengthen Navy's Deep-Sea Rescue and Diving Operations
INS Nipun, a dedicated diving support and submarine rescue vessel, was commissioned in Mumbai to boost the Navy's underwater capabilities.
The Indian Navy commissioned INS Nipun in Mumbai on Monday, a dedicated Diving Support and Submarine Rescue Vessel that will significantly bolster its niche underwater capabilities for multi-domain operations. Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Krishna Swaminathan presided over the ceremony, which was attended by Vice Admiral Sanjay Vatsayan, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Naval Command, along with other senior officers and representatives from Hindustan Shipyard Ltd., Visakhapatnam.
INS Nipun is the second vessel of the Nistar Class and is designed to support complex operations in what Admiral Swaminathan described as one of the world's most challenging and mysterious environments. The vessel brings together a range of capabilities possessed by only a handful of navies, including the ability to embark and operate the Indian Navy's Deep Submergence Rescue Vessel (DSRV).
Speaking at the commissioning, Admiral Swaminathan highlighted the vessel's role in enhancing the Navy's capacity to respond to a distressed submarine, whether Indian or that of a partner navy. He noted that this capability would enable India to emerge as the preferred submarine rescue partner in the region. The vessel's specialised diving capabilities can also support partner nations in underwater salvage and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) missions.
Admiral Swaminathan underscored the current period of significant strategic churn, where the maritime environment is increasingly contested and threat perceptions are constantly evolving. He stressed the importance of staying prepared for anticipated threats and building robust capabilities to tackle challenges effectively, wherever they may arise.
The vessel is equipped to support saturation, air, and heliox diving, and carries remotely operated underwater systems for inspection and intervention. Its specialised diving complex, dynamic positioning capability, and associated life-support and medical facilities enable sustained and complex operations at sea. The Western Naval Command will now integrate INS Nipun into its operational plans, exercising its capabilities to ensure the ship is ready for every task at sea, strengthening its ability to operate above, on, and beneath the waves.