INS Nipun: India’s Indigenous Diving Support Vessel

Context

The Indian Navy commissioned INS Nipun at Naval Dockyard, Mumbai, on 31 August 2026.

What is INS Nipun?

1. It is the second Diving Support Vessel (DSV) of the Nistar Class, following INS Nistar, commissioned in July 2025.
2. Builder: Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL), Visakhapatnam.
3. Indigenisation: Around 75% indigenous content, supporting Aatmanirbhar Bharat in defence shipbuilding.
4. Primary role: Designed for underwater operations rather than conventional naval combat; acts as a floating support base for deep-sea diving, underwater intervention, salvage and submarine rescue.

Key Capabilities

1. Diving Systems: Supports three major forms of diving:

• Air diving: Uses compressed air and is generally suited to relatively shallow depths.
• Heliox diving: Uses a helium–oxygen mixture to support deeper underwater operations.
• Saturation diving: Divers remain under controlled pressure for extended periods, allowing prolonged deep-sea work while reducing repeated decompression.

1. Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs): It enable underwater inspection, intervention and salvage without direct diver involvement.
2. Dynamic Positioning: Maintains the vessel’s position automatically, essential for precise diving and rescue operations.
3. Support Facilities: Equipped with life-support, medical and specialised diving systems for extended missions.

Role in Submarine Rescue

1. Rescue Support: Acts as a mother ship for submarine rescue, providing the required underwater support systems.
2. Enhanced Coverage: Along with INS Nistar, provides dedicated DSV capability for operations on both coasts.
3. DSRV Support: Works with Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicles (DSRVs), which can rescue submarine personnel from depths of up to 650 metres.

Significance for India

1. Underwater Security: Enhances the Navy’s capacity for independent underwater operations and submarine rescue.
2. Strategic Autonomy: Reduces reliance on foreign support for specialised underwater missions.
3. Defence Indigenisation: Strengthens India’s indigenous naval shipbuilding and advanced maritime capabilities.

FAQs

Q1. What is INS Nipun?
Ans. INS Nipun is a Nistar-class Diving Support Vessel (DSV) of the Indian Navy. It supports deep-sea diving, underwater intervention and submarine rescue operations.

Q2. What is saturation diving?
Ans. It is a method in which divers stay in a pressurised environment for prolonged periods. This enables extended underwater operations without repeated decompression after every dive.

Q3. What is the significance of Heliox diving?
Ans. Heliox is a mixture of helium and oxygen used instead of ordinary air for certain deep-diving operations. It helps divers operate safely at greater depths.

Q4. What is the role of an ROV aboard INS Nipun?
Ans. A Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) is an unmanned underwater system. It can perform inspection, monitoring, intervention and salvage tasks.

Q5. What is the mother-ship role of INS Nipun?
Ans. It provides the operational and support infrastructure for Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicles (DSRVs) during submarine rescue missions.