The Indian Navy commissioned the deep‑sea diving vessel INS Nipun on Monday, August 31, in Mumbai, with Navy chief Admiral Krishna Swaminathan presiding over the ceremony. The 119.4‑metre ship, built by Hindustan Shipyard Limited in Visakhapatnam, is the navy’s second dedicated diving platform after INS Nistar, which entered service last year.
INS Nipun is equipped to support a range of underwater tasks, including saturation, air and heliox diving operations to depths of 300 metres. It carries remotely operated underwater systems, a specialised diving complex, dynamic positioning, and comprehensive life‑support and medical facilities, enabling sustained and complex missions at sea. The vessel can also embark the navy’s deep submergence rescue vessel, providing rapid submarine rescue capability.
Beyond rescue, the platform is designed for underwater intervention, salvage, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations. Its capabilities are intended to bolster maritime cooperation, allowing India to assist partner navies in submarine rescue, salvage, and HADR missions, and to position the country as a preferred regional rescue partner.
Admiral Swaminathan highlighted that the true measure of the ship’s value will be how quickly it is integrated into operational use. He noted that successful sea trials and the validation of diving systems and remotely operated vehicles demonstrate the effective collaboration between the navy, Hindustan Shipyard, and domestic industrial partners.
