2 days ago
Indian Navy Commissions INS Nipun for Deep-Sea Submarine Rescue
The Indian Navy has added a new ship called INS Nipun.
It is specially built to help divers work deep underwater.
The ship can support different kinds of diving, including diving to depths of up to 300 metres.
It can carry and operate a rescue vessel that helps save submarine crews.
It also uses underwater robots to inspect and work on objects below the sea.
INS Nipun can help with submarine rescue, salvage and disaster-relief missions.
It was designed and built in India by Hindustan Shipyard Limited.
The ship will operate from India’s western coast under the Western Naval Command.
Reports give two versions of its motto: “Far Beneath, Few Beyond” and “Nischay, Nirbhay, Nipun.”
The Indian Navy commissioned INS Nipun at Naval Dockyard, Mumbai, on August 31, 2026.
INS Nipun is the second indigenously designed and built Nistar-class Diving Support Vessel, after INS Nistar.
The vessel supports saturation, air and heliox diving, with diving operations reaching depths of up to 300 metres.
It can operate the Navy’s Deep Submergence Rescue Vessel and remotely operated underwater systems for inspection and intervention.
Officials said INS Nipun will strengthen submarine rescue, salvage, disaster relief and humanitarian assistance for India and partner nations.
- Who
- The Indian Navy commissioned INS Nipun in the presence of Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Krishna Swaminathan and Vice Admiral Sanjay Vatsayan.
- What
- INS Nipun, the second Nistar-class Diving Support Vessel, entered service for deep-sea diving, underwater intervention, salvage and submarine rescue.
- Where
- Naval Dockyard, Mumbai; the vessel will be based on India’s western coast under the Western Naval Command.
- When
- Monday, August 31, 2026.
- Why
- To expand India’s specialist underwater capabilities and improve responses to distressed submarines, salvage needs, disaster-relief missions and humanitarian operations.
Key facts
- Vessel
- INS Nipun, the second Nistar-class Diving Support Vessel
- Commissioning
- Naval Dockyard, Mumbai, on August 31, 2026
- Builder
- Hindustan Shipyard Limited, Visakhapatnam
- Dimensions
- 119.4 metres long; reports describe its capacity or displacement as 10,500 tonnes, while one account cites 9,000 tonnes
- Diving capability
- Supports saturation, air and heliox diving to depths of up to 300 metres
- Rescue capability
- Can embark and operate the Indian Navy’s Deep Submergence Rescue Vessel
- Indigenous content
- Vice Admiral Sanjay Vatsayan said the vessel has more than 75% indigenous content
- Reported mottos
- “Far Beneath, Few Beyond” and “Nischay, Nirbhay, Nipun” are both reported
Quotes
Vice Admiral Sanjay Vatsayan
Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Naval Command
“With more than 75% of Indigenous content, this also stands as a testimony to our growing self reliance in defence manufacturing. We, today, have further strengthen Indian Navy's capabilities on both seaboards who operate in one of the most challenging and unforgiving environments on the Earth – the deep sea diving operations. With this, India has made its place in one of the few elite navies across the world.”
freepressjournal.in
“Nipun's ability to embark and operate the Indian Navy's deep submergence rescue vessel significantly enhances our capacity to respond to a distressed submarine quite significantly - whether our own, or that of a partner Navy. This capability would also enable India to support submarine rescue and emerge as the 'Preferred Submarine Rescue Partner' in the region.”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
Indian Navy commissions INS Nipun, deep-sea vessel built for diving and submarine rescue
Maharashtra: Navy Adds New Underwater Operations Vessel
India Now Among A Select Group Of Navies To Possess A Submarine Rescue Capabilities As Indian Navy Commissions INS Nipun At Mumbai
How INS Nipun strengthens India’s deep-sea diving, submarine rescue ops
INS Nipun commissioned into Indian Navy, bolstering deep-sea diving and submarine rescue capabilities
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