INS Nipun.
INS Nipun: The Indian Navy has formally commissioned INS Nipun, the second Diving Support Vessel of the Nistar class, at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai. Built to enhance the naval force’s deep-sea diving, underwater intervention, and submarine rescue operations, the vessel represents an important milestone in domestic defense manufacturing.
The commissioning ceremony was led by Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, Chief of the Naval Staff, alongside Vice Admiral Sanjay Vatsayan, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Naval Command. Representatives from Hindustan Shipyard Limited in Visakhapatnam, naval veterans, and families of the commissioning crew were also present for the event.
Designed and constructed entirely by Hindustan Shipyard Limited, INS Nipun highlights India’s growing capacity to build complex specialist naval platforms under the national push for self-reliance in defense shipbuilding. The vessel is engineered specifically for deep-sea diving, supporting saturation, air, and heliox diving operations, and carries remotely operated underwater systems for intervention and inspection tasks. Equipped with a specialized diving complex, dynamic positioning capability, and onboard medical and life-support facilities, the ship can conduct sustained operations in challenging maritime environments.
Alongside its sister ship INS Nistar, INS Nipun significantly strengthens the Indian Navy’s capability to handle underwater contingencies, salvage operations, and submarine rescues. The vessel’s motto, ‘Far Beneath, Few Beyond’, reflects the specialized skill and endurance required for deep-sea operations.
Addressing the audience during the ceremony, Admiral Krishna Swaminathan stated that the induction of INS Nipun reflects the seamless synergy between the Indian Navy, Hindustan Shipyard Limited, and the domestic industrial network. He noted that proving the role-worthiness of all diving systems during sea trials in a single sortie stands as a testament to the nation’s technical confidence and engineering prowess.
The Chief of the Naval Staff emphasized that combat readiness remains the Indian Navy’s highest priority amidst an increasingly contested maritime environment and growing threats to global maritime highways. Based on the West Coast under the Western Naval Command, the vessel will support multi-domain operations and provide niche capabilities shared by only a handful of global navies.
These capabilities allow for a rapid response to distressed submarines belonging to the Indian Navy or partner nations. This operational profile positions India as a preferred submarine rescue partner in the region, while also extending support for underwater salvage and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief missions.
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INS Nistar of Indian Navy. (File Photo).
Addressing the commissioning crew, Admiral Swaminathan stated that they inherit not just a sophisticated platform, but also the onerous responsibility to shape the ship’s soul and instil spirit into her steel. Exhorting the crew to live up to the ship’s motto of ‘Nischay, Nirbhay, Nipun’, covering resolve, fearlessness, and professional mastery, he urged them to remain anchored in the core naval values of duty, honour, and courage.
With the official hoisting of the commissioning pennant, INS Nipun has entered operational service, ready to safeguard India’s maritime interests and support personnel operating beneath the waves.
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