How INS Nipun strengthens India’s deep-sea diving, submarine rescue ops

The Indian Navy officially launched INS Nipun, the second diving support vessel (DSV) of the Nistar-class, on Monday at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai. This specialised ship strengthens the Western Naval Command's deep-sea diving, underwater intervention, and submarine rescue capabilities. DSVs are essential for extended underwater operations, particularly in deep and challenging waters.

The Indian Navy utilizes DSVs to support submarine rescue, underwater inspection, testing, and recovery of objects from the ocean. INS Nipun is named after the Sanskrit term "one who is proficient and well-versed in a particular field". Its design incorporates a whale symbolising endurance and a modern diving helmet representing divers.

The vessel is equipped with dive equipment and capable of deep-sea saturation diving, allowing divers to work at extreme depths. The ship also houses a Remotely Operated Vehicle for monitoring and salvage operations. INS Nipun can serve as the mother ship for the Deep Submergence Rescue Vessel (DSRV), enabling the evacuation of personnel in case of emergencies on a submarine.

The contract for the ship's procurement was signed in 2018, with the first vessel, INS Nistar, commissioned in July 2019, and INS Nipun commissioned in August 2021.