The Indian Navy will formally bring into service INS Nipun, the second diving support vessel of its class, on 31 August 2026 at Naval Dockyard in Mumbai. The Ministry of Defence made this announcement regarding a ship that has been entirely designed and built within India. The addition of this specialised vessel will expand the Navy’s capacity to conduct deep-sea diving operations and provide underwater support across Indian waters.
What the vessel does and where it was built
Nipun is the second ship in the Nistar-class of Diving Support Vessels. It was designed and constructed by Hindustan Shipyard Limited in Visakhapatnam and handed over to the Indian Navy on 30 July 2026, after completing all fitting-out work and trials at the shipyard.
The vessel carries modern diving systems and equipment for underwater intervention work. It is fitted with advanced navigation and station-keeping systems that allow it to hold position steadily during operations. The ship also has specialised medical facilities on board to support divers working in difficult conditions at sea.
Beyond routine diving support, Nipun is equipped to assist in submarine rescue missions. The combination of its diving systems, underwater intervention tools, platform management systems and medical facilities makes it an integrated platform capable of handling complex underwater tasks.
What this means for you
This commissioning demonstrates that Indian shipyards can now build sophisticated, specialised naval vessels without depending on foreign suppliers. The induction of Nipun enhances the Navy’s readiness to respond to underwater emergencies, conduct deep-sea operations and manage rescue situations involving submarines across India’s maritime zones. For citizens, it represents a step forward in India’s defence self-reliance and reduces the country’s need to import such specialised vessels from abroad.