Historic Submarine To Become Centrepiece Of New Cartagena Museum

CARTAGENA has officially received nan submarine Tonina S-62, 1 of nan astir iconic vessels successful nan history of nan Spanish Navy, which will soon go nan main attraction of a caller depository successful nan tunnels of El Espalmador. The handover ceremonial took spot recently, erstwhile Admiral Alejandro Cuerda formally transferred nan submarine to Mayor Noelia Arroyo, successful nan beingness of Regional President Fernando López Miras.

The Tonina, a Daphné-class submarine built successful 1973, served nan Spanish Navy for 32 years, during which it travelled much than 200,000 miles, nan balanced of 9 trips astir nan world, and spent complete 31,000 hours beneath nan sea. It is regarded arsenic 1 of nan astir important examples of Spain’s naval engineering, having played a cardinal domiciled successful some training missions and world operations.

A depository successful nan bosom of Cartagena’s naval history

The caller depository will beryllium located wrong nan Monte de Galeras tunnels, a historical subject tract overlooking Cartagena’s port. These underground spaces will beryllium transformed into a state-of-the-art accumulation centre dedicated to nan sea, technology, and naval history, highlighting nan adjacent narration betwixt nan metropolis and nan Spanish Navy.

According to Mayor Arroyo, nan task “will usage a unsocial tract successful Spain to create a abstraction dissimilar immoderate successful Europe,” offering visitors a uncommon opportunity to research nan wrong of a existent submarine while learning astir nan improvement of nan Submarine Arm and nan lives of those who served aboard.

Cartagena’s submarine depository Image: Cartagena.es

Preserving a heavy maritime heritage

The metropolis of Cartagena has agelong been considered nan cradle of Spanish submarine history, pinch its shipyards and naval accommodation making love backmost centuries. It was present that Isaac Peral, nan pioneer of nan electrical submarine, was born, and wherever generations of submariners person trained. The inclusion of nan Tonina successful this caller depository continues that legacy, ensuring that some residents and visitors tin admit nan region’s profound maritime identity.

Admiral Cuerda, nan past commandant of nan Tonina, remarked that “few cities are arsenic connected to nan Navy arsenic Cartagena,” adding that this caller section ensures nan alloy “will proceed to service nan metropolis and its people, preserving nan proud history of Spanish submariners.”

Boost for tourism and section businesses

The depository is expected to go 1 of Cartagena’s awesome tourer attractions, drafting visitors from crossed Spain and Europe. Officials dream it will complement nan city’s different humanities sites, specified arsenic nan Roman Theatre, nan Naval Museum, and nan National Museum of Underwater Archaeology (ARQVA), strengthening Cartagena’s estimation arsenic a taste and acquisition destination.

Beyond preserving history, nan task besides promises to bring economical benefits, boosting section tourism and supporting adjacent businesses. With nan Tonina now safely anchored connected land, Cartagena is fresh to unfastened a caller chapter, 1 that celebrates innovation, bravery, and nan enslaved betwixt nan metropolis of Cartagena and nan sea.

Cartagena’s submarine depository Image: Cartagena.es

Read much Costa Calida news, articles and events here