"Indian Navy Commissions Second Indigenous Diving Support Vessel INS Nipun"
Diving Support Vessel (DSV)
A specialised naval ship that sustains complex underwater operations, including saturation diving and submarine rescue.
Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle (DSRV)
A small submersible that docks with a distressed submarine to evacuate its crew.
India's maritime security architecture has grown steadily over the past two decades. The Indian Navy operates as the country's primary blue-water force, responsible for protecting India's interests across the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). Underwater capability is a niche but critical part of this architecture. Submarine rescue, deep-sea salvage, and underwater intervention require dedicated specialist vessels. Very few navies globally possess such platforms.
Historically, the Indian Navy depended on Russian-origin submarine rescue vessels and shore-based facilities. These platforms lacked the ability to sustain long deployments at sea or conduct multi-domain underwater operations. The Make in India initiative and the Atmanirbhar Bharat policy have sought to reverse this dependence. Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL), a Defence Public Sector Undertaking based in Visakhapatnam, was contracted in September 2018 to build two Diving Support Vessels (DSVs) for the Indian Navy. This contract marked a significant step toward indigenous production of highly specialised naval platforms.
A Diving Support Vessel (DSV) is a specialised naval platform designed to sustain complex underwater operations for extended periods. These operations include saturation diving, air diving, and remotely operated underwater intervention. Saturation diving allows divers to live under pressure for prolonged periods, enabling work at great depths without repeated decompression cycles. DSVs carry the diving systems, medical facilities, compression chambers, and equipment needed for such missions. They reduce dependence on shore-based infrastructure and allow the Navy to respond quickly to underwater emergencies far from the coast.
DSVs also serve as mother ships for Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicles (DSRVs). A DSRV is a small, unmanned or crewed submersible that can dock with a distressed submarine and evacuate its crew. …
Which one of the following is the best description of 'INS Astradharini', that was in the news recently?
Why is maritime security vital to protect India's sea trade? Discuss maritime and coastal security challenges and the way forward.
What are the maritime security challenges in India? Discuss the organisational, technical and procedural initiatives taken to improve the maritime security.
Consider the following statements regarding India's Diving Support Vessels (DSVs):
1.Both Nistar-class DSVs were built by Hindustan Shipyard Limited, Visakhapatnam.
2.India's Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicles (DSRVs) can conduct rescue operations at depths of up to 650 metres.
3.INS Nipun is assigned to the Eastern Naval Command.
4.The DSRVs were procured from a UK-based defence firm.
How many of the above statements are correct?
Match the following with respect to India's naval diving and submarine rescue assets:
List I (Asset) — List II (Key Feature)
A.INS Nistar — 1. Second Nistar-class DSV, Western Naval Command
B.INS Nipun — 2. First Nistar-class DSV, commissioned 2024
C.DSRV — 3. Rescue capability up to 650 metres depth
D.Hyperbaric Lifeboat — 4. Pressurised lifeboat for independent diver evacuation
Select the correct match:
With reference to India's submarine rescue capability, consider the following:
1.India has two DSRVs, one based on each seaboard.
2.The DSRVs were procured from M/s James Fisher Defence, UK.
3.INS Nipun displaces approximately 9,000 tonnes.
4.The first DSRV was delivered at Visakhapatnam in 2018.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
Which of the following best describes the role of a Diving Support Vessel (DSV) in relation to a Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle (DSRV)?
Consider the following statements about saturation diving as used in naval Diving Support Vessels:
1.Saturation diving allows divers to live under pressure for extended periods to work at great depths.
2.It eliminates the need for repeated decompression between dives at the same depth.
3.It uses a helium-oxygen mixture called heliox to reduce nitrogen narcosis at depth.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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