TSAMTO, November 22. During the FEINDEF-2021 exhibition, the Spanish Ministry of Defense signed a contract with the national company for the construction of the underwater rescue support ship BAM-IS (Buque de Accion Maritima de Intervencion Subacuatica) for the country's Navy.
The work will be carried out at the Navantia enterprise in Puerto Real. It is planned that the ship will be delivered within 42 months from the date of signing the agreement.
As previously reported by TSAMTO, the Spanish government authorized the Ministry of Defense to conclude a contract with Navantia for the construction of a new BAM-IS ship for the country's Navy on October 11, 2021.
According to Navantia, the cost of the order is estimated at 166.46 million euros. The contract provides for the construction of the ship, as well as the purchase and integration of appropriate rescue equipment. The work will be carried out at the Navantia enterprise in Puerto Real, specializing in the construction of large displacement vessels.
Currently, for rescue and underwater operations, the Spanish Navy uses the rescue vessel Neptuno, whose service life is expiring. In particular, it is used to support mine warfare operations, underwater repairs, rescue of crews and lifting of submarines, diving operations, archaeological research, lifting of sunken ships, etc. The new ship will assume these functions, and will also be able to perform rescue of NATO submarine crews and other tasks in order to ensure safety at sea.
According to Navantia, work on BAM-IS will provide about 1,100 jobs over three and a half years. In addition, it is expected that the project of a vessel providing search and rescue operations under water will be in demand on the international market, taking into account the increase in the number of submarines in service with the Navies of the world.
