Context:INS Nipun commissioned at Mumbai to strengthen the Indian Navy’s underwater, deep-sea diving and submarine-rescue capabilities.
Type:2nd Diving Support Vessel (DSV) of the Nistar Class; built by Hindustan Shipyard Ltd., Visakhapatnam.
Key capability: Can embark and operate the Indian Navy’s Deep Submergence Rescue Vessel (DSRV) to rescue distressed submarines—Indian or those of partner navies.
Diving systems: Supports saturation, air and heliox diving; equipped with Remotely Operated Underwater Vehicles/Systems (ROVs) for underwater inspection and intervention.
Other features:Dynamic Positioning System, specialised diving complex, life-support and medical facilities enable sustained deep-sea operations.
Additional roles:Underwater salvage, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) and support to partner countries.
Operational significance: Strengthens the Western Naval Command’s ability to operate above, on and beneath the sea and supports India’s ambition to become a preferred submarine-rescue partner in the region.
Prelims Edge:DSVs primarily support deep-sea diving, submarine rescue and underwater operations, while DSRVs are specialised submersible vehicles used to rescue personnel from disabled/distressed submarines.
