What is INS Nipun, why does India need deep-diving vessels, and are they on schedule?

The Indian Navy's second Diving Support Vessel (DSV) of the Nistar class, INS Nipun, was commissioned at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai on August 31, 2026. This indigenously designed and constructed vessel by Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL) in Visakhapatnam represents a significant strengthening of India's ability to operate in the challenging underwater domain.

INS Nipun is equipped with advanced capabilities such as saturation diving, air diving, heliox diving, remotely operated underwater systems, and specialised diving complexes. These features allow it to support highly specialised operations beyond combat, such as underwater intervention, salvage and submarine rescue missions. The vessel's dynamic positioning capability ensures precision despite currents and weather conditions, essential for underwater operations.

INS Nipun's deployment on the West Coast under the Western Naval Command enhances the Navy's underwater capabilities in a strategically important maritime theatre. INS Nistar, the first vessel of the class, was commissioned in July 2025 and is deployed under the Eastern Naval Command. The successful construction and commissioning of these vessels demonstrate India's growing maturity in naval shipbuilding and highlight the increasing importance of the underwater domain in maritime warfare.

This capability also strengthens India's role as a "Preferred Submarine Rescue Partner" in the Indian Ocean Region, adding a new dimension to its maritime diplomacy and expanding its role as a regional security provider.