The Indian Navy on Thursday took delivery of ‘Nipun’, the second indigenous Diving Support Vessel (DSV) built by Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL), marking another milestone in India’s drive towards self-reliance in defence shipbuilding under the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative.
The vessel was formally delivered to the Navy at Visakhapatnam. Designed and constructed in accordance with the classification rules of the Indian Register of Shipping (IRS), the ship has an indigenous content of nearly 75 per cent.
Named ‘Nipun’, a Sanskrit word meaning “one who is adept, capable and well-versed in a particular discipline,” the vessel is designed to undertake specialised deep-sea diving and maritime rescue operations.
The ship is equipped with advanced diving systems capable of conducting deep-sea saturation diving, a specialised technique that enables divers to operate at significant depths for extended durations. It also features a side diving stage to support underwater operations.
‘Nipun’ is fitted with state-of-the-art Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs), which enhance its operational capability by assisting in diver monitoring, underwater inspection and salvage missions.
The vessel will also serve as the mother ship for the Indian Navy’s Deep Submergence Rescue Vessel (DSRV), enabling rapid rescue and evacuation of personnel in the event of a submarine emergency.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said induction of ‘Nipun’ is expected to significantly strengthen the Navy’s capabilities in the specialised domain of deep-sea diving, underwater salvage and submarine rescue operations, while reinforcing the country’s indigenous defence manufacturing capabilities.
