On September 18, 2026, Navantia celebrated the naming ceremony of the Spanish Navy’s new Underwater Intervention Maritime Action Vessel (BAM-IS), A-21 Poseidón.
The ceremony follows the successful float-out of the vessel earlier that week at Navantia’s Puerto Real shipyard and marks a significant milestone in a program aimed at enhancing the Spanish Navy’s submarine rescue, diving support, and underwater intervention capabilities.
Designed as the successor to the Navy’s rescue and salvage vessel Neptuno, Poseidón will serve as the primary platform for underwater operations. The program was initiated in response to the operational needs associated with the S-80 submarine fleet, ensuring dedicated support and rescue capabilities for submarine crews throughout their operational life. For more details, visit www.navalnews.com.
Advanced Capabilities of the BAM-IS
The BAM-IS integrates a wide range of advanced systems within a single platform. It is capable of deploying a submarine rescue vehicle and conducting underwater inspection and intervention missions using remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) at depths of up to 3,000 meters.
The vessel is designed for deep-water underwater intervention, utilizing mixed-gas diving systems, performing underwater repair operations, recovering submerged objects, conducting search and identification missions, providing hyperbaric treatment for diving accidents, protecting underwater archaeological heritage, and supporting conventional naval operations. Additionally, it will play a crucial role in training and certifying Spanish Navy diving units, including support for the Military Diving School.
Certification and Strategic Importance
One of the program’s notable achievements is the vessel’s MOSHIP certification, making Poseidón the first ship in the Spanish Navy capable of serving as a mother ship for both NATO’s NATO Submarine Rescue System (NSRS) and the United States Navy’s Submarine Rescue Diving and Recompression System (SRDRS). This capability enhances Spain’s contribution to allied submarine rescue operations and improves interoperability with NATO and partner navies.
Admiral Antonio Piñeiro, Chief of Staff of the Spanish Navy, emphasized the program as a demonstration of commitment to national technological development and highlighted the importance of collaboration between the Navy and Spanish industry, stating that such cooperation constitutes a strategic capability in its own right.
Ricardo Domínguez, Chairman of Navantia, remarked that Poseidón possesses unique capabilities resulting from close collaboration between Navantia, the Ministry of Defence, and the Spanish Navy, ensuring that Spain maintains advanced and adaptable defense capabilities in a demanding strategic environment. The vessel also reflects Spain’s commitment to the Navy 2050 Plan and to strengthening European defense and strategic autonomy.
The vessel was sponsored by María Dolores Higueras Rodríguez, Spain’s first underwater archaeologist, whose career has been closely linked to the exploration and preservation of the country’s underwater heritage.
Construction of the BAM-IS began in 2021. With the naming of A-21 Poseidón, the program reaches another key milestone towards delivering one of the most advanced underwater intervention and submarine rescue vessels in service with a European navy.
Explore more technology and cybersecurity reporting from Cyber Warriors Middle East.
