Lucillecrale at 12:23, 6 May 2026

2026-05-06T12:23:43Z

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{{Short description|Indian support and rescue vessel}}
{{distinguish|INS Nirdeshak}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2019}}{{italic title|string=Nireekshak}}
{{Infobox ship
|section1={{Infobox ship/image
| image = INS Nireekshak (A15) at sea.jpg
| image_caption = INS ''Nireekshak'' (A15) at sea.
}}

|section2={{Infobox ship/career
| hide_header =
| country = India
| flag = {{Shipboxflag|India|naval}}
| name = ''Nireekshak''
| namesake =
| owner =
| operator =
| registry =
| route =
| ordered =
| awarded =
| builder = [[Mazagon Dock]], Mumbai
| original_cost =
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| completed =
| acquired = by charter, 1988
| commissioned = 8 June 1989
| decommissioned =
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| reclassified =
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| reinstated =
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| identification = {{IMO Number|8111996}}
| nickname =
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| status = Active
| notes =
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}}

|section3={{Infobox ship/characteristics
| hide_header =
| header_caption = <ref name=nir/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oocities.org/vinswasre123/insf.htm |title=Indian Naval Fleet |publisher=Oocities.org |date= |accessdate=4 October 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hazegray.org/worldnav/asiapac/india.htm |title=World Navies Today: India |publisher=Hazegray.org |date=25 March 2002 |accessdate=4 October 2013 |archive-date=14 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140114023924/http://www.hazegray.org/worldnav/asiapac/india.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| class =
| type =
| tonnage =
| displacement = *{{Convert|2160|LT|lk=on}} [[Standard displacement|standard]]
*{{Convert|3600|LT}} [[Loaded displacement|full load]]
| length = {{Convert|70.5|m|ftin|abbr=on}} [[Length overall|o/a]]
| beam = {{Convert|17.5|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
| height =
| draught =
| depth = {{Convert|5|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
| hold_depth =
| decks =
| deck_clearance =
| power =
| propulsion = * 2 × diesel engines, {{Convert|5015|shp|0|abbr=on}}
* 2 × shafts
* [[Kongsberg Maritime]] ADP-503 Mk.II [[Dynamic positioning|dynamic positioning system]], 2 bow thrusters, 2 stern thrusters with {{Convert|990|hp|0|abbr=on}}
| speed = {{Convert|12|kn|lk=in}}
| range =
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| boats =
| troops =
| complement = 63 (incl. 15 officers)
| time_to_activate =
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| EW =
| armament =
| armour =
| notes =
}}
}}
'''INS ''Nireekshak'' (A15)''' (''Inspector'') is a [[diving support vessel]] (DSV) of [[Indian Navy]]. It can also function as interim [[submarine rescue vessel]] (SRV).

== Design and acquisition ==
''Nireekshak'' was originally built by the [[Mazagon Dock Limited]], [[Mumbai]], for the [[Oil and Natural Gas Corporation]]'s offshore [[oil exploration]] work, having a dynamic position facility and a recompression chamber. It was however acquired on lease with an option for purchase by [[Indian Navy]] and was commissioned on 8 June 1989. The ship was modified and refitted with the diving bell and other rescue equipment removed from the former Russian submarine rescue vessel {{Ship|INS|Nistar|1969|6}} in a dry dock. In March 1995 the purchase option was invoked and the vessel was formally re-commissioned on 15 September 1995. The ship is equipped with two Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicles (DSRV), capable of taking 12 men to 300 meters together, with two six-man recompression chambers and one three-man diving bell. It is intended to facilitate rescue from a submarine in distress and training of saturation divers. Its pennant number is A-15.<ref name="nir">{{cite web |url=http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/NAVY/Ships/Active/154-INS-Nireekshak.html |title=NAVY - INS Nireekshak |publisher=Bharat-Rakshak.com |date=8 June 1989 |accessdate=4 October 2013 |archive-date=4 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004220648/http://www.bharat-rakshak.com/NAVY/Ships/Active/154-INS-Nireekshak.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://indiansubmariners.blogspot.com/2008/03/transition-to-eminence-indian.html |title=indiansubmariner: Transition to Eminence - Indian submarines |publisher=Indiansubmariners.blogspot.com |date=22 March 2008 |accessdate=4 October 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVk1ZpHkPbE |title=Indian Naval Ship 'Nireekshak' departs Trincomalee harbor after successful voyage |author=Sri Lanka Navy |author-link=Sri Lanka Navy |publisher=[[YouTube]] |quote=Indian Naval ship ‘Nireekshak' which arrived in Sri Lanka on 25th November, departed the port of Trincomalee, today (03rd December). Sri Lanka Navy bade customary farewell to the departing ship in accordance to naval traditions. |date=3 December 2019}}</ref>

== Service history ==
In January 2013 a team of [[Saturation diving|saturation divers]] from ''Nireekshak'' set a new national diving record, operating at {{Convert|257|m}} in the Arabian Sea, about {{Convert|35|nmi}} off [[Kochi]], and beating their own record of {{Convert|233|m}} set in February 2011.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/Naval-divers-set-national-record/articleshow/18094522.cms |title=Naval divers set national record |newspaper=[[The Times of India]] |date=20 January 2013 |accessdate=30 May 2014}}</ref>

On 16 April 2016, a sailor lost his leg while two others were injured in an oxygen cylinder explosion on board the ship. The explosion took place while a diving bailout bottle, a small 12-inch oxygen bottle which is carried by divers in their diving helmet, was being charged. This incident has never happened in history of the Indian Navy before. One sailor sustained serious injuries and his right leg was amputated from just above the knee and two other sailors received splinter injuries in the stomach region and legs. They were admitted in Military Hospital, Trivandrum as ship was on it way to Mumbai from Visakhapatnam.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/content/541595/three-sailors-injured-explosion-board.html|title=Three sailors injured in explosion on board Indian naval ship|date=20 April 2016|newspaper=Deccan Herald|agency=PTI|access-date=6 July 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.in/2016/04/20/naval-accident-nireekshak_n_9736658.html|title=Sailor Loses Leg In Explosion On Naval Ship INS Nireekshak|website=The Huffington Post|date=20 April 2016 |access-date=2016-04-20}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Oxygen cylinder explosion on board Indian Navy ship injures 3 sailors|date=20 April 2016 |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/india/oxygen-cylinder-explosion-on-board-indian-navy-ship-injures-3-sailors/story-YIJsHxk8s1l0w7cy06JcJL.html}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/navy-diver-loses-leg-after-oxygen-cylinder-explodes-on-board-ship-1397471|title=Navy Diver Loses Leg After Oxygen Cylinder Explodes On INS Nireekshak|date=20 April 2016|first1=Vishnu|last1=Som|first2=Sudhi Ranjan|last2=Sen|editor-first=Anindita|editor-last=Sanyal|website=NDTV.com|access-date=21 June 2020}}</ref>

The ship, commanded by [[Commander]] Sailesh Kumar Tyagi, reached the [[Port of Colombo]], [[Sri Lanka]] to participate in the fourth edition of IN-SLN DIVEX 2026, a bilateral diving exercise with the [[Sri Lanka Navy]] scheduled from 21 to 27 April 2026. The ship also delivered 50,000 rounds of [[9×19mm Parabellum]] rounds to the Sri Lanka Navy. The visit is also aimed to act as an operational turnaround.<ref>{{Cite press release |title=INS Nireekshak arrives at Colombo, Sri Lanka to participate in IN-SLN DIVEX 2026 |date=2026-04-22 |publisher=[[Press Information Bureau]] |url=https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2254416&reg=3&lang=1 |access-date=2026-04-29}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-04-22 |title=INS Nireekshak arrives in Sri Lanka for Operational Turnaround and training visit |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/ins-nireekshak-arrives-in-sri-lanka-for-operational-turnaround-and-training-visit-101776858193905.html |access-date=2026-04-29 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite press release |title=INS NIREEKSHAK makes port call in Colombo |date=2026-04-22 |publisher=[[Sri Lanka Navy]] |url=https://news.navy.lk/eventnews/2026/04/21/202604211600/ |access-date=2026-04-29}}</ref>

==Gallery==

{{Gallery
|title=
|width=160 | height=170
|File:INS Nireekshak (A15) entering Mangalore port.jpg
|INS ''Nireekshak'' (A15) entering [[Mangalore]] port.
|File:INS Nireekshak (A15).jpg
|INS ''Nireekshak'' (A15) at sea.
}}

==See also==
* [[List of active Indian Navy ships]]
* [[Future ships of the Indian Navy]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|INS Nireekshak (A15)}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20140927071407/http://www.indiannavy.nic.in/naval-fleet/diving-support-ship-nireekshak Indian Navy: Diving Support Ship ''Nireekshak'']

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nireekshak, INS}}
[[Category:Auxiliary ships of the Indian Navy]]
[[Category:Training ships of the Indian Navy]]
[[Category:Ships built in India]]

INS Nireekshak - Revision history

Lucillecrale at 12:23, 6 May 2026