The interior of Cartagena’s historic submarine is to be conserved by November 2027, more than a decade after its exterior was restored.
The Spanish Navy has tendered an €85,000 contract to study and restore the interior of the Isaac Peral submarine, displayed at Cartagena’s Naval Museum. The budget, including VAT, sets aside €9,000 for the project design and preliminary studies, and €76,000 for the conservation work. The contract is due to run until 30 November 2027.
The vessel bears the name of Isaac Peral, a Cartagena-born naval officer and inventor who developed an electrically propelled submarine equipped with a torpedo tube and periscope. Built at La Carraca shipyard in Cádiz, it was launched on 8 September 1888. Trials conducted in 1889 and 1890 attracted public attention, but the Navy ultimately decided not to continue the project. Peral’s submarine is recognised as a pioneering design in naval history.
The hull remained at the La Carraca arsenal until 1914, when it was transferred to Cartagena. The city put it on public display in 1965. After decades outdoors, exposure to humidity, salt and harsh weather had damaged the metal. In 2012, the submarine was moved to the Arsenal’s former foundry workshop, where the Naval Museum’s Isaac Peral Room was opened in 2013. The exterior was cleaned and treated against corrosion, but the more complex interior restoration remained outstanding.
The latest assessment found significant corrosion in some areas, particularly around the base, where water had collected against the submarine’s former supports. Ballast-filling mortars have also contributed to the deterioration. The central and upper sections, as well as the shelves that held the batteries, are in better condition. The interior retains its original paint, unlike the exterior, which had accumulated layers over time.
Other surviving materials include Fresnel-type glass covers for the skylights, leather battery insulation, textile seals, wooden supports, ceramic electrical components and remnants of wiring. Most of the glass is damaged or destroyed, while the leather is in very poor condition.
The successful bidder will have 15 days after the contract is signed to submit a detailed restoration plan. Laboratory analysis of samples, subject to Navy approval, must support the proposed treatments. Work will cover the metal, paint, glass, wood, textiles, ceramics and wiring. The specifications require minimal intervention, compatible and reversible materials, and respect for the submarine’s authenticity.
The narrow interior and poor ventilation will require safety measures for workers, including plans for access, fresh air and lighting. The restoration must also be arranged around museum visits. Within 15 days of completing the work, the contractor must submit a report documenting treatments, analyses, photographs and maintenance recommendations. The Navy will review it before it goes to the Ministry of Culture for approval.
