Indian Navy Commissioned INS Nipun in Mumbai, Boosting Submarine Rescue Capability

The Indian Navy on August 31, 2026, commissioned INS Nipun, its second Diving Support Vessel of the Nistar class, at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai, adding a specialised platform designed for deep-sea diving, underwater intervention, salvage and submarine rescue support.

Built indigenously by Visakhapatnam-based Hindustan Shipyard Limited, the 9,000-tonne vessel is being seen as another step in India’s effort to develop and field complex naval platforms at home. INS Nipun has been configured for demanding underwater tasks and is equipped to support operations that require sustained work beneath the surface, including deep-sea diving and assistance to submarine rescue missions.

The commissioning ceremony was presided over by Navy Chief Admiral Krishna Swaminathan in the presence of Vice Admiral Sanjay Vatsayan, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command, senior naval officers and representatives of Hindustan Shipyard Limited.

With its induction, INS Nipun will be based on the West Coast under the Western Naval Command. Admiral Swaminathan described the vessel as an important addition to the specialist underwater capabilities needed to support multidomain operations. He said the Western Naval Command would remain ready to deal with challenges along and beyond India’s western seaboard, and that the new ship would help the Navy operate effectively above, on and beneath the waves.

The Navy Chief also placed the commissioning in the wider context of the maritime security environment, pointing to instability in West Asia, threats to global maritime highways and rapid military modernisation across the region. He said the Navy must prepare for threats that may not yet be fully visible, building credible capabilities that can respond effectively and within the required timeframe.

One of INS Nipun’s most significant features is its ability to embark and operate the Indian Navy’s Deep Submergence Rescue Vessel, or DSRV. Admiral Swaminathan said this capability substantially improves India’s capacity to respond to submarine emergencies involving Indian submarines as well as those of partner navies.

That role also supports India’s wider ambition of becoming a preferred submarine rescue partner in the region. Beyond rescue operations, the ship’s specialist diving systems can also be used for underwater salvage and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief, giving the Navy another tool for maritime cooperation and emergency response.

INS Nipun is fitted with saturation diving systems, a dynamic positioning system, diving compression chambers, self-propelled hyperbaric lifeboats and remotely operated vehicles. These systems allow the vessel to carry out complex underwater tasks and to support extended diving and rescue operations in demanding conditions. The ship can also work with the DSRV, enhancing the Navy’s ability to respond to distressed submarines.

The vessel’s name, Nipun, refers to someone who is adept, capable and well-versed in a particular discipline. The Navy said the ship’s fit and role reflect that idea, bringing together a combination of specialist underwater systems found with only a limited number of navies worldwide.

INS Nipun joins its sister ship INS Nistar in strengthening the Navy’s overall capacity for specialist diving, underwater intervention, salvage and submarine rescue support. Together, the two vessels are expected to provide greater flexibility for complex underwater operations and emergency response.

The commissioning also highlighted the role of Indian shipyards in delivering advanced naval platforms. Admiral Swaminathan congratulated Hindustan Shipyard Limited and noted its long association with India’s indigenous shipbuilding journey, as well as its evolution towards increasingly sophisticated vessels.

He said commissioning a warship is only one part of building capability, and that the real test lies in how quickly and effectively the platform can be turned into operational strength.

With its advanced diving systems, dynamic positioning, rescue support functions and ability to operate the DSRV, INS Nipun gives the Indian Navy a dedicated platform for some of the most technically demanding missions beneath the surface. Its induction adds to India’s underwater preparedness and strengthens its capacity to contribute to submarine rescue, salvage and HADR operations across the Indian Ocean Region.

The ship’s motto, “Far Beneath, Few Beyond”, reflects the specialised skill and endurance required to operate in the underwater domain.