Mumbai, Aug 26: The Indian Navy is set to induct its second Nistar-class Diving Support Vessel (DSV), Nipun, into operational service on August 31 at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai, strengthening the force’s capabilities for deep-sea diving and underwater operations.
Designed and built domestically by Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL) in Visakhapatnam, Nipun is a specialised platform developed to support a range of underwater missions.The vessel was handed over to the Indian Navy on July 30 after completing its outfitting programme and a series of trials to assess its operational systems and equipment.
Nipun is equipped with modern diving and underwater intervention systems that will allow Navy personnel to undertake specialised activities beneath the sea under challenging conditions.
The vessel is also expected to enhance the Navy’s ability to support submarine rescue operations by providing specialised diving facilities, underwater intervention capabilities and medical support.
Its navigation and platform management systems are designed to enable accurate station keeping, an important requirement during complex underwater missions where the vessel needs to remain at a designated location.
The ship can function as an integrated support platform for diving, underwater intervention and associated medical requirements, enabling personnel to conduct prolonged and technically demanding operations at sea.
The commissioning of Nipun is also being viewed as a significant step in India’s efforts to strengthen self-reliance in defence shipbuilding. Its indigenous design and construction highlight the growing capacity of Indian shipyards to develop specialised vessels for the armed forces.
With its induction, the Indian Navy will further expand its specialised underwater support infrastructure and improve its preparedness for diving, underwater intervention and submarine rescue-related missions across India’s maritime areas of interest.
