The Navy is commissioning INS Nipun to support advanced underwater operations
INS Nipun, the second diving support vessel (DSV) of the Nistar class, before its commissioning, at the Bombay Naval Shipyard on August 31, 2026. | Photo credit: PTI
The Indian Navy commissioned INS Nipun on Monday (August 31, 2026) at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai. This is the second diving support vessel (DSV) of the Nistar class and will significantly enhance the Navy’s capabilities in deep diving, undersea intervention and submarine rescue.
Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Krishna Swaminathan presided over the ceremony. Vice Admiral Sanjay Vatsayan, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command, senior naval officers, representatives of Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL), veterans and families of crew members were also present.
According to the Ministry of Defence, INS Nipun is a specialized platform built to conduct complex underwater operations. The vessel was originally designed and built by HSL in Visakhapatnam. Its induction marks another step towards self-sufficiency in defense shipbuilding and reflects India’s growing ability to design and construct technologically advanced naval platforms.
The vessel is primarily intended to support deep diving and underwater operations, including saturation, air and heliox diving. It is equipped with remotely controlled underwater control and intervention systems, while its specialized diving complex, dynamic positioning capabilities, life support systems and medical facilities enable sustained operations in challenging maritime conditions.
INS Nipun can also support submarine rescue operations, substantially enhancing the Navy’s ability to respond to unpredictable underwater situations. Together with its sister ship INS Nistar, the vessel will strengthen the Navy’s capabilities in diving, underwater intervention, salvage and submarine recovery.
Seamless synergy
Admiral Swaminathan said the commissioning of INS Nipun reflects the seamless synergy between the Indian Navy, Hindustan Shipyard Limited and the domestic industrial network.
He noted that demonstrating the functionality of all diving systems during sea trials in a single sortie was a testament to the country’s technical confidence and engineering prowess.
The Chief of Naval Staff said combat readiness remains the Navy’s top priority amid an increasingly contested maritime environment and growing threats to global sea lanes. Based on the western coast under the Western Naval Command, INS Nipun would be a significant addition to the specialized underwater capabilities needed to sustain multi-domain operations, he said.
Highlighting the vessel’s specialized capabilities, Admiral Swaminathan said they are available only to a handful of navies worldwide and will enable India to respond quickly to distressed submarines of both the Indian Navy and partner nations.
This capability, he said, would strengthen India’s position as the preferred submarine rescue partner in the region while enabling specialized support for underwater rescue and humanitarian and disaster relief operations.
Addressing the commissioning crew, CNS said they inherited not only a sophisticated platform but also the responsibility of shaping the ship’s character and instilling the spirit of its steel. He urged them to live by the ship’s motto of ‘Nischay, Nirbhay, Nipun’ – determination, fearlessness and professional mastery – while remaining anchored in the core naval values of duty, honor and courage.
INS Nipun formally entered operational service with the raising of the commissioning flag.
The motto of the ship’s coat of arms and domain, “Far Beneath, Few Beyond”, reflects the skill, endurance and determination required to operate in one of the most challenging areas of the maritime environment.
Published – 31 Aug 2026 11:47 IST