The Indian Navy’s indigenously designed and built survey ship, INS Nirupak, was recently decommissioned after 38 years of illustrious service to the nation.

The decommissioning ceremony was presided by Vice Admiral Adhir Arora, AVSM, NM, Chief Hydrographer to the Govt of India at Naval Dockyard, Visakhapatnam. 

The ship third of its class was launched on June 4, 1981, at GRSE and commissioned into service on August 14, 1985 by Vice Admiral Jayant Ganpat Nadkarni, then Chief of Naval Staff. 

The ship is based at Visakhapatnam under the administrative and operational control of Flag Officer Commanding in Chief, Eastern Naval Command.

In recognition of its relentless dedication to the field of hydrography, INS Nirupak was awarded the Admiral Jal Cursetji Rolling Trophy for best survey ship in the years 1994, 1995, 2005 and 2009. It was actively engaged in Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations.

INS Nirupak leaves an enduring legacy of maritime excellence, having charted the seas for 38 years. Its hydrographic survey has not only shaped naval operations but also played a pivotal role in advancing scientific understanding of oceanography. 

The data collected by INS Nirupak has been instrumental in enhancing navigational safety in the Indian Ocean Region including foreign countries. 

Indiapost PMG, Visakhapatnam Region Mr V Ramulu was also present on the occasion to release a special cover on behalf of Indiapost. Four state-of-the-art survey ships are anticipated to join the survey fleet between 2024 & 2026.