INS Nireekshak at Colombo for IN-SLN DIVEX 2026

23 April 20261 min read

Why in the news

An Indian Navy diving support ship called at Colombo for a week-long bilateral diving exercise with the Sri Lanka Navy.

Ship: INS Nireekshak (A15), diving support and interim submarine rescue vessel.
Exercise: 4th edition of IN-SLN DIVEX 2026, April 21 to 27.
Aim: interoperability and exchange of best practices in underwater operations.
Gift: two BHISM cubes (Bharat Health Initiative for Sahyog Hita and Maitri) under Aarogya Maitri.
Equipment: diving bell, two six-man recompression chambers and a dynamic positioning system.

Role: deep-sea diving operations, submarine rescue and saturation diver training.
Recompression chambers prevent decompression sickness in divers; dynamic positioning holds the ship steady at sea.
A DSRV (Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle) is a mini-submarine used to rescue crews of a disabled submarine.

Full form: Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions.
Pillars: collective growth, regional stability and India as a first responder in the Indian Ocean Region.
An Operational Turnaround visit lets a ship refuel, restock and rest its crew while doing diplomatic or training work.

Test yourself

1. INS Nireekshak is mainly classified as which kind of vessel?

It is a Diving Support Vessel and interim Submarine Rescue Vessel.

2. What did INS Nireekshak present to Sri Lanka under Aarogya Maitri?

The ship is gifting two BHISM cubes.

3. IN-SLN DIVEX 2026 aligns with which Indian vision for the Indian Ocean?

The engagement matches the MAHASAGAR framework.