Navy Chief Commissions INS Nipun, Warns of Increasingly Contested Maritime Environment

Navy Chief Commissions INS Nipun, Warns of Increasingly Contested Maritime Environment

MUMBAI — Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Krishna Swaminathan on Monday commissioned India's second indigenously designed and built Diving Support Vessel (DSV), INS Nipun, at the Naval Dockyard in Mumbai, while warning that the maritime environment is becoming increasingly contested and threat perceptions are evolving rapidly.

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Admiral Swaminathan said combat readiness remains the Indian Navy's foremost responsibility and highest priority, and that the induction of INS Nipun would strengthen India's specialised underwater capabilities.

"We are living today through a period of significant strategic churn. The maritime environment is becoming increasingly contested. The threat perception in it is constantly evolving and manifesting in newer forms of challenge and complexity," he said.

The Navy chief noted that while it may not always be possible to predict the exact nature of future threats, India must remain prepared for anticipated challenges and develop credible capabilities to respond effectively and in time.

"While it might not always be possible to predict the exact nature of threats that our nation could face in the future, what we can certainly do is be prepared for the threats that we anticipate and build credible capability that enables us to tackle them effectively and on time wherever and whenever they may arise," Admiral Swaminathan said.

INS Nipun's Capabilities

INS Nipun is a 9,000-tonne vessel equipped with specialised capabilities, including saturation diving, a dynamic positioning system, diving compression chambers, self-propelled hyperbaric lifeboats, and remotely operated vehicles (ROVs). It is designed to support diving operations at depths of up to 300 metres and can undertake rapid submarine rescue missions.

The vessel can also embark and operate the Indian Navy's Deep Submergence Rescue Vessel (DSRV), expanding the navy's capacity to assist a distressed submarine, whether its own or that of a partner navy. INS Nipun can be deployed for disaster relief and humanitarian assistance operations.

The vessel will be based on the West Coast under the Western Naval Command, adding to the navy's niche underwater capabilities for multi-domain deepwater operations.

Strategic Context

The commissioning took place amid heightened tensions in West Asia. Admiral Swaminathan said West Asia is in turmoil, global maritime highways are under threat, and nations across the region are re-arming at an accelerated pace. He stressed that the Western Naval Command will continue to remain at the vanguard to tackle all challenges along and off the western seaboard.

He also highlighted that submarine rescue is a discipline where preparedness admits very little margin for delay, and that INS Nipun's specialised diving capabilities could support partner nations in underwater salvage and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions.

Capability Creation

Admiral Swaminathan said the commissioning of INS Nipun was only one part of capability creation, and its successful induction would ultimately be measured by how quickly it was converted into deployable operational capability. He added that the capability would enable India to emerge as a reliable submarine rescue partner in the region.