UTRECHT, 14 November 2008 – At the end of October, Strukton Civiel deployed its self-propelled diving bell submarine in laying sections of the immersion tunnel for the Busan-Geoje Fixed Link in South Korea. Using this type of submarine in the immersion process is a first, both for Strukton Civiel and the sector as a whole.

The submarine will enable the South Korean team to meet several challenges in carrying out the project. Immersion work has to be carried out at a depth of 60 metres. This requires unmanned immersion, only possible through high-tech customisation and innovative computer-controlled technology. The submarine was deployed to swiftly transport experts in and out of the immersed tunnel section during the immersion process. It attaches itself to the tunnel section and facilitates access through a manhole to carry out repair work.

In time, Strukton will use the submarine on other immersion projects at considerable depths of up to 300 metres. This could involve seabed studies or cable and pipeline maintenance in the North Sea. The submarine was purchased by the Strukton subsidiary OTN in November last year and was successfully subjected to extensive testing in the waters of the Maasplassen (Roermond) in Augustus. The submarine was launched in South Korea and fittingly named Aurora or daybreak.

The submarine is being used to assist in laying part of the Busan-Geoje Fixed Link immersion tunnel. This project provides concrete shape to important economic and social issues. The overall project represents an investment value of some €1.5 billion and connects the second capital city of South Korea with the Geoje peninsula using two cable bridges and a 3.2-kilometre-long immersed tunnel.