The Indian Navy formally commissioned INS Nipun, its second Nistar-Class Diving Support Vessel (DSV), at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai. Presided over by Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Krishna Swaminathan in the presence of Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief (Western Naval Command) Vice Admiral Sanjay Vatsayan, the induction marks a major step forward in India’s deep-sea diving, salvage, and submarine rescue infrastructure.
INS Nipun Commissioned Into Indian Navy – Indigenous Engineering Milestone by Hindustan Shipyard Limited
Indigenously designed and built by Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL) in Visakhapatnam, INS Nipun stands as a testament to the nation’s Aatmanirbharta (self-reliance) in defense shipbuilding. The purpose-built platform successfully validated all diving systems in a single sea trial sortie, underscoring domestic engineering capabilities. The ship features specialized life-support units, air and heliox diving apparatus, saturation diving complexes, dynamic positioning, and remotely operated underwater vehicles (ROVs) for deep-sea intervention.
INS Nipun Commissioned Into Indian Navy – Strategic Enhancement of Underwater Rescue and HADR Operations
Stationed under the Western Naval Command, INS Nipun alongside her sister ship INS Nistar—substantially upgrades the Indian Navy’s ability to respond to deep-sea emergencies. Admiral Swaminathan highlighted that the vessel’s niche submarine rescue capabilities position India as a “Preferred Submarine Rescue Partner” for regional allies across the Indian Ocean Region. Furthermore, the ship is outfitted to provide critical support during deep-water salvage and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) missions.
INS Nipun Commissioned Into Indian Navy – Naval Leadership Urges Readiness Under Motto ‘Far Beneath, Few Beyond’
Addressing the commissioning crew, the Chief of the Naval Staff stressed that combat readiness remains the Navy’s highest priority amid growing challenges across global maritime highways. Exhorting the crew to embody the values of duty, honor, and courage, he urged them to uphold the vessel’s motto—’Far Beneath, Few Beyond’—and operational spirit of Nischay, Nirbhay, Nipun (Resolve, Fearlessness, and Professional Mastery) as the ship enters active operational service.
