Context: Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL) formally delivered ‘Nipun’—the second indigenous Diving Support Vessel (DSV) built for the Indian Navy—at Visakhapatnam.
Nipun: India’s Indigenous Diving Support Vessel
About Nipun: India’s Indigenous Diving Support Vessel (DSV):
What It Is?
A specialized, first-of-its-kind long-endurance naval vessel designed for deep-sea diving, underwater salvage, submarine rescue, and search-and-rescue (SAR) missions.
It is Second vessel of the Nistar-class DSVs (following its sister ship, INS Nistar).
Built By: Designed and constructed by Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL) in Visakhapatnam.
Aim: To strengthen the Indian Navy’s underwater strategic capabilities by acting as a specialized platform for deep-sea saturation diving, submarine rescue operations, and oceanographic salvage—reducing dependence on foreign rescue vessels.
Key Features:
Substantial Scale and Indigenization: Measures 4 meters in length with a displacement of over 8,560 tonnes, featuring an indigenous content exceeding 75%–80% (utilizing steel produced entirely by SAIL).
Deep-Sea Saturation Diving Capability: Equipped with state-of-the-art diving gear, a side diving stage, moonpool, and saturation diving systems that allow naval divers to operate safely at extreme underwater depths for extended periods.
Mother Ship for Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicles (DSRV): Serves as a primary host platform to launch, track, and recover the Navy’s Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicles (DSRVs) to evacuate personnel during submarine emergencies.
Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs): Fitted with advanced subsea ROVs to monitor divers in real time, conduct underwater structural inspections, and assist in deep-ocean salvage operations.
High Operational Endurance: Features an operational endurance of 60 days without replenishment and includes a flight deck capable of accommodating heavy helicopters for Search and Rescue (SAR) or medical evacuation missions.
Significance:
Enables the Indian Navy to conduct rapid, independent submarine rescue operations across the Indo-Pacific without relying on foreign assistance.
Demonstrates the growing strength of India’s defence shipbuilding sector with nearly 80% indigenous content under Aatmanirbhar Bharat.