Last week, Navantia Puerto Real lowered the macrostructure 300 of the Submarine Rescue Vessel / Underwater Intervention Maritime Action Vessel (BAM-IS) into dry dock. This continues the construction strategy for this vessel, contracted by the Directorate General of Armament and Material (DGAM), which is being built for the Spanish Navy.
Navantia press release
This macrostructure, composed of three blocks and weighing 597 tons, houses the Voith cycloidal thrusters, whose installation in dry dock is planned for the near future, as well as the pedestal for the large-capacity crane, the organic hyperbaric chamber, and the working deck. The underwater intervention equipment will be installed on the latter.
With this macrostructure already assembled in dry dock, only three more blocks remain to complete the ship and proceed with its launch. Alberto Cervantes, Business Director for Corvettes and Maritime Action Vessels, highlighted the program’s progress, which, thanks to the company’s own workforce and collaborating industry, is advancing according to plan.
The new underwater intervention vessel (BAM-IS), which will be the natural replacement for the Salvage and Rescue Ship “Neptuno”, will be the specialized and equipped platform for the salvage and support of submarine rescue, and the main unit of the navy for the support of diving operations.
The acquisition of the BAM-IS arose as a need associated with the S-80 submarines in order to provide support and ensure the safety of the crews from the beginning of their operational life.
The new BAM-IS will be capable of transporting a rescue mini-submarine and conducting underwater explorations and interventions with remotely operated vehicles to depths of up to 3,000 meters. The BAM-IS will be prepared to:
It will be the Navy’s first MOSHIP-certified ship to act as a mother ship for the NATO Submarine Rescue System (NSRS) and the United States Submarine Rescue Diving and Recompression System.
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