Indian Navy to Commission Diving Support Vessel Nipun

Indian Navy to Commission Diving Support Vessel Nipun

#GS-3 #Science & Technology #Defence #GS-2 #Current Events #National #Indian Navy #DSV Nipun

Key takeaways

  • The Indian Navy is set to commission Nipun, the second indigenously built Diving Support Vessel of the Nistar-class.
  • Designed and built by Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL) in Visakhapatnam, Nipun acts as a multi-mission mothership for deep-sea operations.
  • The vessel features an integrated saturation diving complex, dynamic positioning system, and support for Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicles (DSRV).
  • Nipun significantly reduces India's reliance on foreign assistance for submarine rescue and salvage operations in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

Why in News

  • The Indian Navy will soon commission Nipun, which is the second indigenously designed and built Diving Support Vessel under the Nistar-class.

About DSV Nipun

  • Nipun is an advanced Diving Support Vessel operating as a multi-purpose mothership for deep-sea saturation diving, salvage operations, and submarine rescue.
  • The vessel has been designed and constructed natively by Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL) located in Visakhapatnam.
  • Its main goal is to give the Indian Navy a self-reliant platform for underwater engineering tasks, salvage work, and Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle (DSRV) support.

Key Features of DSV Nipun

  • It features deep-sea diving complexes and hyperbaric recompression chambers that allow military divers to stay safely at extreme depths for long durations.
  • The ship acts as a launcher and recovery base for Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicles (DSRVs) to locate and rescue crews from damaged submarines.
  • Automated thrusters and dynamic positioning technology enable the vessel to stay perfectly stationary in one spot despite heavy ocean waves or winds.
  • The vessel carries heavy cranes, side-scan sonars, and Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) to survey the ocean floor and handle underwater debris.
  • Dedicated medical facilities onboard provide specialized treatment for decompression sickness and immediate emergency care for rescued crew members.

Significance

  • Building the Nistar-class domestically provides round-the-clock submarine rescue capabilities and minimizes India's reliance on foreign navies.
  • It significantly boosts India's maritime power in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), supporting both its conventional and nuclear submarine fleets.