"Indian Navy Commissions Second Nistar-Class Diving Support Vessel INS Nipun"
Diving Support Vessel (DSV)
A specialised naval ship designed for deep-sea diving, underwater intervention, and submarine rescue operations.
Saturation Diving
A diving technique where divers live under pressure for extended periods, enabling sustained work at great depths.
India's maritime security architecture has evolved significantly over the past two decades. The Indian Navy operates as the primary blue-water force, responsible for protecting India's vast maritime interests across the Indian Ocean Region. Alongside it, the Indian Coast Guard, established under the Coast Guard Act, 1978, handles coastal surveillance, anti-smuggling, anti-piracy, and search-and-rescue within India's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of 200 nautical miles.
Historically, India depended heavily on foreign-built naval platforms. The Make in India initiative and the Atmanirbhar Bharat policy have sought to reverse this. The Defence Acquisition Procedure (DAP) mandates minimum indigenous content thresholds for different procurement categories. Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs) such as Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL) in Visakhapatnam and Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) have been central to this shift. HSL, in particular, has built a reputation for constructing specialised naval vessels, including diving support platforms.
Underwater capability is a niche but critical dimension of naval power. Submarine rescue, deep-sea salvage, and underwater intervention require dedicated specialist vessels. Very few navies globally possess such platforms. India's investment in this domain reflects both its growing submarine fleet and its ambition to be a reliable maritime partner in the Indo-Pacific.
A Diving Support Vessel (DSV) is a specialised naval platform designed to support complex underwater operations. These include saturation diving, air diving, and heliox diving, each suited to different depth ranges and operational requirements. Saturation diving allows divers to live under pressure for extended periods, enabling work at great depths without repeated decompression. Heliox diving uses a helium-oxygen mixture to reduce nitrogen narcosis at depth.
DSVs are also equipped with Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs), unmanned underwater systems used for inspection, intervention, and recovery tasks where human divers cannot safely operate. Dynamic positioning systems allow the vessel to hold a precise location without anchoring, which is essential for underwater operations in open water. …
What are the maritime security challenges in India? Discuss the organisational, technical and procedural initiatives taken to improve the maritime security.
Why is maritime security vital to protect India's sea trade? Discuss maritime and coastal security challenges and the way forward.
Which one of the following is the best description of 'INS Astradharini', that was in the news recently?
The term 'IndARC', sometimes seen in the news, is the name of
Consider the following statements regarding INS Nipun:
1.It is the first Diving Support Vessel (DSV) of the Indian Navy.
2.It was designed and built by Hindustan Shipyard Limited in Visakhapatnam.
3.It is based under the Eastern Naval Command.
4.It can support submarine rescue operations for both Indian Navy and partner nation submarines.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Which of the following best describes a 'Diving Support Vessel' (DSV) in the context of naval operations?
Match the following naval vessels with their primary roles:
List I (Vessel) — List II (Primary Role)
A.INS Nipun — 1. Torpedo launch and recovery
B.INS Astradharini — 2. Deep-sea diving and submarine rescue
C.INS Nistar — 3. Amphibious warfare support
D.INS Jalashwa — 4. Troop and equipment transport for amphibious operations
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
Consider the following statements regarding Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL):
1.It is a Defence Public Sector Undertaking (DPSU) under the Ministry of Defence.
2.It is headquartered in Visakhapatnam.
3.It built INS Nipun, the second Nistar-class Diving Support Vessel.
How many of the above statements are correct?
Assertion (A): India's commissioning of INS Nipun positions it as a Preferred Submarine Rescue Partner in the Indo-Pacific region.
Reason (R): Diving Support Vessels with submarine rescue capability are possessed by only a handful of navies globally.
Which of the following is correct?
Want the full note, Prelims Facts & MCQ answers?
Create a free account — takes less than a minute.
Create free account