INS Nirupak Decommissioned At Visakhapatnam

In a solemn ceremony at the Naval Dockyard, Visakhapatnam, the Indian Navy bid farewell to INS Nirupak, its indigenously designed and built survey ship, after 38 years of dedicated service to the nation. The decommissioning ceremony was presided over by Vice Admiral Adhir Arora, AVSM, NM, Chief Hydrographer to the government of India.

INS Nirupak, the third of its class, was launched on 4 June 1981, at Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) and commissioned into service on 14 August 1985, by Vice Admiral Jayant Ganpat Nadkarni, then Chief of Naval Staff. Based at Visakhapatnam under the administrative and operational control of the Flag Officer Commanding in Chief, Eastern Naval Command, the ship played a pivotal role in shaping naval operations and advancing scientific understanding of oceanography.

Recognised for its relentless dedication to hydrography, INS Nirupak was honoured with the Admiral Jal Cursetji Rolling Trophy for the best survey ship in 1994, 1995, 2005, and 2009. The ship actively participated in Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations, including Operation Gambhir (Tsunami Relief) in 2004, providing critical relief as a hospital ship to Indonesia.

With a legacy spanning 20 Commanding Officers, INS Nirupak leaves behind an enduring legacy of maritime excellence. The ship’s hydrographic surveys have not only shaped naval operations but also played a crucial role in enhancing maritime safety in the Indian Ocean Region and beyond.

The decommissioning ceremony saw the ceremonial hauling down of the naval ensign and the commissioning pendant for the last time on January 29. The officers and sailors who served onboard INS Nirupak were present, marking the poignant end of an era.

The decommissioning of INS Nirupak marks the beginning of a new chapter as the Indian Navy looks forward to the addition of four state-of-the-art survey ships between 2024 and 2026. Equipped with cutting-edge technology, these vessels are expected to further enhance India’s hydrographic capabilities, contributing significantly to maritime navigation, scientific research, and disaster response. The strategic vision behind the survey fleet expansion underscores the Indian Navy’s commitment to maintaining its position at the forefront of maritime excellence.