The Indian Navy has received Nipun, the second Diving Support Vessel (DSV) built by Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL) in Visakhapatnam. The delivery marks another major milestone for the city's shipbuilding industry and highlights India's growing capability in building advanced naval platforms. It is the second time in just over a year that HSL has delivered a vessel of this class to the Indian Navy.

Hindustan Shipyard Limited, a Miniratna Category-I Defence Public Sector Undertaking under the Ministry of Defence, designed and built the vessel according to the Classification Rules of the Indian Register of Shipping (IRS). Officials at the shipyard described the delivery as another sign of the steady growth of Visakhapatnam's shipbuilding sector and its ability to execute complex defence projects.

The formal handover took place after Rear Admiral Arvind Rawal, VSM, Chief Staff Officer (Technical) at the Western Naval Command and Chairman of the D448 Committee, and Rear Admiral Chandrasekharan Raghuram, VSM (Retd.), Chairman and Managing Director of HSL, signed the Acceptance Document (D448). The event took place almost one year after HSL delivered the lead vessel of the class, INS Nistar, to the Indian Navy.

The name Nipun comes from Sanskrit and means someone who is skilled, capable and well-versed in a particular field. The vessel reflects that meaning through its specialised design and advanced operational role. The Indian Navy will use it for deep-sea diving operations and rescue missions at sea.

Nipun measures 118 metres in length and has a displacement of more than 8,560 tonnes. More than 80 per cent of the vessel has been built using indigenous components. It features Dynamic Positioning, Saturation Diving, Submarine Rescue and Deep-sea Intervention systems. According to the Navy, these capabilities make the vessel a complete platform for underwater operations.

The ship carries advanced diving equipment that supports deep-sea saturation diving. It also includes a Side Diving Stage to assist diving operations. The vessel's Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) expand its operational capability by supporting diver monitoring and deep-sea salvage missions. These systems allow the crew to carry out specialised underwater tasks safely and efficiently.

Nipun also serves as the "Mother Ship" for the Deep Submergence Rescue Vessel (DSRV). This role allows it to support submarine rescue operations. In the event of a submarine emergency, the vessel can help evacuate personnel from underwater, making it a critical asset for the Indian Navy's rescue and emergency response capability.

The project has also contributed to the local economy. HSL officials said nearly 120 small and medium enterprises participated in building the vessel. Many of these businesses are based in and around Visakhapatnam. Their involvement extended the project's economic benefits beyond the shipyard and strengthened the local industrial ecosystem.

Nipun follows the successful delivery of INS Nistar, which the Indian Navy commissioned in Visakhapatnam in July 2025. INS Nistar became the first indigenously designed and built vessel of its class. It performs advanced saturation diving and submarine rescue missions, capabilities available with only a limited number of navies across the world.

HSL launched both INS Nistar and Nipun together at its Visakhapatnam shipyard in September 2022. The two vessels progressed through construction, sea trials and final delivery in parallel. Their timely completion demonstrated HSL's ability to execute major naval programmes with consistency.

During the commissioning of INS Nistar, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi described the vessel as a "crucial operational enabler" that would help establish India as a "Preferred Submarine Rescue Partner" for the region. HSL officials believe the same description applies to Nipun, which joins the Navy as the second vessel in the class with similar capabilities.

The delivery also reflects HSL's growing focus on advanced defence shipbuilding. The shipyard has steadily expanded its role from repair work to the construction of sophisticated naval platforms. The successful completion of two Diving Support Vessels within about a year has strengthened confidence in the yard's ability to compete for future naval shipbuilding projects.

Industry observers in Visakhapatnam believe the DSV programme will improve HSL's prospects in upcoming defence contracts. The successful execution of these vessels demonstrates the shipyard's technical expertise, project management skills and ability to meet the Indian Navy's requirements.

Hindustan Shipyard Limited remains one of Visakhapatnam's largest industrial employers and has a shipbuilding legacy spanning more than eight decades. The company has built and repaired ships for the Indian Navy, the Indian Coast Guard and commercial operators. It has also completed submarine construction and refit projects over the years. The delivery of Nipun further strengthens HSL's contribution to India's defence manufacturing sector and reinforces Visakhapatnam's position as one of the country's leading shipbuilding hubs.