Freire launches new Spanish Navy diver support vessel Prosperina (A22)

Dive support vessel Prosperina. [Photo: Spanish Navy]

Spain’s family-owned Freire Shipyard has launched the diver support vessel (NC 739) that it is building under the first contract awarded it by the Spanish Navy. Named Prosperina (A22), the new vessel replaces the veteran Proserpina. Over 30 meters length and with a range of 500 nautical miles, the new Prosperina will play a key role in the training activities of the Spanish Navy’s Diving School (Escuela Militar de Buceo, EMB) at the Navy Diving Center (Centro de Buceo de la Armada, CBA)

The vessel combines eco-friendly technology with the capability for deep and prolonged underwater operations

The launch ceremony was presided over by the shipyard’s general managers, Marcos and Guillermo Freire, accompanied by the Chief of Staff of the Spanish Navy, Admiral General Antonio Piñeiro Sánchez, and was attended by a large number of prominent civil and military officials and dignitaries.

“Today we witness the achievement of a collective effort, a shared vision, and the trust built between the Navy and the Spanish shipbuilding industry,” said Admiral Piñeiro Sánchez. “To all of you who have made this project possible—workers, engineers, technicians, and of course, your families—thank you. Thank you for demonstrating that the Spanish shipbuilding industry continues to be a reference.”

“The Proserpina has a clear, demanding, and strategic mission: to support the Military Diving School in the training of our specialists,” he said. “We live in an environment where maritime security is increasingly complex. Threats are not only on the surface, but also underwater. Essential infrastructures run along the seabed: cables carrying our Internet, gas pipelines, other services, etc. Protecting them requires preparation, resources, and highly qualified professionals. That is where our divers operate, and that is where the Proserpina’ becomes an essential component”.

“For the entire team at Freire Shipyard, it is a privilege to be the first private shipyard to build a steel vessel for the Navy. Through this collaboration, we contribute to the modernization of its auxiliary units, strengthening its position as a naval benchmark both nationally and internationally, and laying the foundations for future joint initiatives. We are grateful to the civil and military authorities who joined us at this ceremony, a moment of great significance for our shipyard,” stated Marcos and Guillermo Freire,.

The vessel was christened by Mrs Olga Vallespín Gómez, the first professional female diver in Spain, who served as godmother during the event.

The Prosperina has an overal length of 32.90 meters and a beam of 9 meters. With a range of 500 nautical miles at a cruising speed of 10 knots and a maximum speed of 12 knots, it is capable of carrying out prolonged missions in national waters and can accommodate up to 15 crew members.

It incorporates eco-friendly technologies to optimize fuel consumption and reduce emissions. Its main features include a dynamic positioning system (DP2) and a three-anchor mooring system, ensuring stability at depths of up to 90 metres.

The vessel is equipped for underwater intervention operations, including side-scan sonar (SBL), a lightweight, modular, and deployable autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV), and a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) for observation and exploration. The ROV can operate at depths of up to 900 meters while the AUV reaches 300 meters

Designed by Seaplace, the vessel includes dedicated areas for diving equipment, hyperbaric chambers and tactical coordination, supporting diving assistance missions, advanced training and technical work at depth.

Located in the city of Vigo and founded in 1895, Freire Shipyard began the construction of steel-hulled vessels began in the early 1960s, and since then has built more than 280 steel vessels for customers in more than 25 countries. 
 
Today, the shipyard is dedicated to the construction and repair of high-tech steel vessels up to 155 metres in length, including oceanographic and research vessels, fishing vessels, luxury mega explorer yachts, offshore support vessels and military patrol vessels.