Nipun is a specialized naval ship designed specifically for deep-sea diving, underwater rescue, and search-and-recovery operations. It is the second vessel under the Navy’s Nistar-class Diving Support Vessels (following its sister ship, INS Nistar).It is designed and built by Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL) in Visakhapatnam. It was formally delivered to the Indian Navy at Visakhapatnam.

Key Specifications & Features

• High Indigenization (Aatmanirbhar Bharat): Over 75% to 80% of the ship’s components are made locally in India, including all steel supplied by Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL).
• Scale & Endurance: Measures 118 meters in length with a displacement of over 8,560 tonnes, and can stay at sea for up to 60 days without needing replenishment.
• Deep-Sea Diving Systems: Equipped with saturation diving gear, side diving stages, and a moonpool (a floor opening that allows divers and equipment to enter the ocean directly through the hull).
• Rescue & Survey Equipment:
  • Mother Ship for DSRV: Acts as a launch pad to deploy, track, and recover Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicles (DSRVs) to save crew from trapped or distressed submarines.
  • Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs): Underwater robots used to inspect underwater structures, monitor divers, and locate wreckage.
• Helicopter Operations: Features a flight deck capable of hosting heavy helicopters for search-and-rescue (SAR) or medical evacuation.

Major Roles & Missions

• Submarine Rescue: Acts as a primary platform to save naval personnel if a submarine encounters trouble underwater.
• Deep-Ocean Diving: Enables navy divers to operate safely at extreme ocean depths for long periods.
• Underwater Salvage & Recovery: Helps locate, inspect, and retrieve lost sunken objects or damaged naval structures.
• Search and Rescue (SAR): Conducts maritime emergency missions across open waters.

Strategic Significance

• Self-Reliance in Rescue Operations: Allows the Indian Navy to conduct high-risk underwater rescue missions independently across the Indian Ocean Region without having to rely on foreign nations.
• Boost to Defense Manufacturing: Demonstrates India’s growing capability in designing and constructing complex naval vessels domestically.