A Son de Marvideo
111. Boats of the past and boats of the future.
11 September 2025 · 1h 15m · 2 views
What this video covers
Jorge Uría hosts a podcast episode examining two contrasting milestones in Spanish shipbuilding: the planned reconstruction of the 18th-century ship-of-the-line San Juan Nepomuceno, and the delivery of the USV Challenger, the first unmanned surface vessel built by Astilleros Gondán.3:33 Fernando Ceballos, president of the Asociación para la Reconstrucción del San Juan Nepomuceno, explains that the vessel — launched in 1766 from the Real Astillero de Guarnizo and lost at the Battle of Trafalgar — will be rebuilt in Santander as a static museum ship meeting full merchant marine regulations, not intended to sail. Álvaro Platero, vice-president of Astilleros Gondán, describes the shipyard's 100-year history on the Ría de León, tracing its evolution from small wooden fishing boats to the USV Challenger, now in Norway and awaiting entry into service.5:27 The Challenger operates without crew for up to 30 days, conducts subsea inspection work, and promises up to 90% reduction in emissions and operating costs.35:13 Norwegian maritime authorities and classification society DNV are developing the regulatory framework governing the vessel.37:56 Gondán's founder was also the first to fit a steam engine to a fishing boat in the region, establishing a pattern of technological firsts the yard continues today.30:28
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