The Indian Navy has taken delivery of ‘Nipun’, the second indigenously designed and built Diving Support Vessel (DSV), marking another significant milestone in India’s quest for self-reliance in defence manufacturing. Built by Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL), Visakhapatnam, the vessel is part of the Navy’s programme to strengthen its underwater operational and submarine rescue capabilities.
‘Nipun’ follows the induction of the first vessel of the class, INS Nistar, and features more than 80 per cent indigenous content. The ship is equipped to undertake deep-sea diving operations, submarine rescue missions, search and rescue (SAR), salvage operations, and sustained underwater support tasks. It is also capable of operating a Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle (DSRV) and supporting helicopter operations.
The induction of ‘Nipun’ will substantially enhance the Indian Navy’s operational readiness by providing advanced underwater support for the submarine fleet while reinforcing the Government’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative in defence shipbuilding. The delivery also highlights the growing capabilities of the domestic shipbuilding industry in designing and constructing complex naval platforms.