Indian Navy Enhances Deep-Sea Operations with Indigenous Diving Support Vessel 'Nipun' Delivery

The Indian Navy has marked a significant milestone in its indigenous shipbuilding efforts with the delivery of "Nipun," the second Indigenous Diving Support Vessel (DSV), by Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL) in Visakhapatnam on July 30, 2026. This advanced vessel enhances the Navy's capabilities in deep-sea diving, underwater rescue, and submarine support, aligning with the Government's vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat.

Constructed by Hindustan Shipyard Limited, "Nipun" adheres to the Indian Register of Shipping's Classification Rules, highlighting India's growing proficiency in designing and building complex naval support vessels. With approximately 75 percent indigenous content, this vessel exemplifies the nation's progress towards self-reliance in defense manufacturing and advanced naval shipbuilding.

The vessel's name, "Nipun," is derived from Sanskrit and means "adept, capable, and well-versed." True to its name, the ship is specifically designed for complex deep-sea diving operations, underwater salvage missions, and maritime rescue tasks requiring specialized equipment and highly trained personnel.

Diving Support Vessels are essential to modern naval operations, facilitating underwater maintenance, inspection, repair, salvage, and rescue missions. These specialized ships support divers operating at significant depths and provide crucial capabilities for recovering submerged equipment and conducting underwater engineering tasks.

"Nipun" is equipped with cutting-edge diving equipment, enabling it to perform Deep Sea Saturation Diving, an advanced form of underwater diving that allows divers to remain under pressure for extended periods while operating at considerable depths. This significantly enhances operational efficiency for prolonged underwater missions. The vessel also features a dedicated side diving stage to ensure safe and efficient deployment of divers during specialized operations.

Further augmenting its operational capacity, the vessel includes Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) that offer advanced underwater surveillance, diver monitoring, and salvage support. These unmanned systems enable operators to inspect submerged structures, assess underwater conditions, and assist in complex recovery missions in environments that are challenging or hazardous for direct diver access.

A notable capability of "Nipun" is its function as the Mother Ship for the Deep Submergence Rescue Vessel (DSRV). In submarine emergencies, the DSV serves as the launch and support platform for the DSRV, designed to rescue personnel trapped in disabled submarines on the seabed. This capability significantly enhances the Indian Navy's submarine rescue readiness and ensures a swift response in underwater emergencies.

The induction of "Nipun" considerably bolsters the Indian Navy's ability to execute specialized operations in deep-sea diving and underwater rescue. These capabilities are increasingly vital as the Navy expands its underwater fleet and operational reach across the Indian Ocean Region. Dedicated Diving Support Vessels also play a critical role in supporting submarine operations, maintaining underwater infrastructure, performing hydrographic tasks, and responding to disasters.

The vessel's delivery highlights the ongoing progress of India's indigenous naval shipbuilding sector. Hindustan Shipyard Limited has steadily enhanced its capacity to design and construct specialized naval platforms, contributing to the nation's long-term goal of achieving self-reliance in defense production. The successful construction of "Nipun" underscores the maturity of India's defense industrial base and its capability to deliver technologically advanced support vessels for the armed forces.

The Indian Navy has consistently prioritized indigenous procurement as part of its force modernization strategy. Currently, the majority of ships under construction for the Navy are being built in Indian shipyards, reflecting the transformation of India's maritime industrial capabilities over the last decade.

With the delivery of "Nipun," the Indian Navy advances its underwater operational capabilities while further strengthening indigenous defense manufacturing. Equipped with advanced diving systems, remotely operated vehicles, and submarine rescue support facilities, the vessel will play a pivotal role in ensuring submariners' safety, supporting deep-sea operations, and enhancing the Navy's ability to carry out complex underwater missions to bolster national maritime security.