Indian Navy to Commission Second Indigenous Diving Support Vessel Nipun on August 31

The Indian Navy will commission Nipun, the second vessel of the indigenous Nistar-class Diving Support Vessels, at Naval Dockyard, Mumbai, on August 31, 2026, strengthening its deep-sea diving, underwater intervention and submarine-support capabilities.

Designed and built by Hindustan Shipyard Limited, Visakhapatnam, Nipun was delivered to the Navy on July 30 after completing extensive outfitting and sea trials. Its induction marks another important step in India’s effort to develop specialised naval platforms domestically.

The vessel has been purpose-built to support sustained diving operations in demanding maritime conditions and is equipped with advanced diving systems, underwater intervention facilities and medical support infrastructure. Modern navigation, platform-management and precise station-keeping systems allow the ship to maintain position during complex operations below the surface.

Nipun will also enhance the Navy’s ability to support submarine rescue missions, giving it a specialised platform for operations that require divers and underwater systems to work at significant depths.

The commissioning of the second Nistar-class vessel will expand the Indian Navy’s capacity to conduct specialised underwater missions across India’s maritime areas of interest while highlighting the growing technological capability of the country’s indigenous naval shipbuilding sector.

Source: PIB: https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleaseDetail.aspx?PRID=2303091&reg=48&lang=1