Hindustan Shipyard delivers second diving support vessel to Indian Navy

The Indian Navy took delivery of Nipun, the second diving support vessel (DSV) built by Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL), on July 30, 2026, at Visakhapatnam.

Designed and constructed in accordance with the classification rules of the Indian Register of Shipping (IRS), Nipun is a highly specialized platform intended to support deep-sea diving, underwater rescue, and salvage missions.

The vessel's name is derived from the Sanskrit word Nipun, meaning "one who is adept, capable, and well-versed in a particular discipline," reflecting its specialized operational role.

The ship is equipped with advanced diving systems, including state-of-the-art dive equipment that enables deep-sea saturation diving. It also features a side diving stage to support diving operations and remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) for diver monitoring and underwater salvage tasks.

In addition to its diving capabilities, Nipun will serve as the mother ship for the Indian Navy's Deep Submergence Rescue Vessel (DSRV), enabling the evacuation of personnel from distressed submarines during emergencies.

According to the Indian Navy, the delivery of Nipun represents another milestone in its indigenous shipbuilding program and supports the Government of India's Aatmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India) initiative. The vessel has an indigenous content of nearly 75%.

The induction of Nipun is expected to enhance the Indian Navy's capabilities in the specialized field of deep-sea diving and submarine rescue operations.