Article Posted on : - Apr 27, 2012

Chilean Defence Minister Andres Allamand visits 'Industrial Steam.' Photo: MoD

SANTIAGO (BNS): A prototype of Chile's first rescue and research submarine was recently presented to Defence Minister Andres Allamand.

The Defence Minister visited the company Industrial Steam which started the project eight years ago to build the 'Crocodile Class 250' submarine.

The Crocodile is 33 meters long and 3.5 meters in diameter. It can support up to 250 tonnes during the movement and is expected to about cost EUR 4 million, the Ministry of Defence said in a statement.

The submarine can perform rescue and investigation, including sampling of marine species, measurements and studies of currents, besides being an important element for training professional divers, allowing them to the latter work at great depths for long periods of time, it said.