U-BOAT WORX B.V U-Boat Worx CE-5

The U-Boat Worx CE-5 is a rare, DNV-classed five-person submersible built in 2015 and offered as a fully operational, deployment-ready package, combining a 200-metre depth rating, 16-hour endurance, and 96-hour life support to deliver genuine professional capability rather than novelty appeal. Ideally suited to superyacht use, high-end tourism, marine research, and documentary filmmaking, it provides an unmatched 360° underwater experience while also offering strong commercial potential through high per-dive revenues supported by efficient electric propulsion. Ownership does require ongoing DNV compliance, certified pilots, and flag-state approval, making it best suited to experienced operators, luxury resorts, research institutions, or investors looking to enter the rapidly expanding premium submersible tourism market.

Construction

The U-Boat Worx CE-5 is a DNV-classed, five-person tourist submersible designed for observation and underwater exploration.

 

The submersible is supplied as a complete operational package including surface support equipment, life support systems, navigation and communications, emergency equipment and a comprehensive spare parts inventory.

 

Classification & Certification:

• Classification Society: DNV (Det Norske Veritas).
• CE Mark - CE-5 Submersible.
• Flag / Registry - Republic of the Marshall Islands.
• Official Record of Auxiliary Vessels & Other Appurtenances.
• Survey Statement - DNV.
• Classification Certificate - DNV

 

Hull  & Superstructure Construction:

• Acrylic & Steel.

Machinery

Drive System:

• Thruster model - Technadyne RBL-X (repaired/refurbished units available as spares). Thruster units are Technadyne RBL-X Series, with motor control units (MCUs) supplied by Tecnadyne. The system provides full six-degrees-of-freedom manoeuvrability.
• The CE-5 is driven by a fully electric thruster system supplied by U-Boat Worx, comprising both horizontal and vertical propellers.
• Horizontal propellers - U-Boat Worx / Artisan supplier.
• Vertical propellers - U-Boat Worx / Artisan supplier.
• Motor Control Units (MCUs) - Tecnadyne, refurbished.
• MANTA controller - U-Boat Worx.
• Marlin controller with remote control transmitter: U-Boat Worx.
• Hub bearings - Vesconate / Torlon material.
• Thruster retainer retrofit kit included.

 

Hydraulic System:

• The vessel is equipped with a hydraulic system serving the manipulator arm and other actuated components. The system includes a hydraulic pump, valve pack, Haskell oxygen booster pump and associated pipework.
• Hydraulic fluid - Mineral-based hydraulic oil (Perlu-S grade).
• Hydraulic test and refill kit included.
• Pipe bending and tube cutting kit included.
• Stainless seamless HP tubing in multiple diameters.
• ALOK compression fittings throughout.

 

Maintenance & Performance:

• Cruising speed – 3 knots (surface and submerged).
• Maximum speed – 3 knots (electric thruster system, no RPM rating).
• Power consumption – electric propulsion, zero fuel consumption. Total battery capacity 43.2 kWh (31.2 kWh propulsion + 12 kWh house systems).
• Operational endurance – up to 16 hours at 3 knots. Recharge time 4–6 hours (optimal cycle).

Electrical Systems

Voltage Systems:

• The submersible operates on a high-voltage DC system with 120V and 330V charging circuits.

 

Battery Banks:

• 4 × 130V DC propulsion battery packs (31.2 kWh total) and 4 × 24V DC house system battery packs (12 kWh total). Total capacity: 43.2 kWh high-capacity lithium-ion. E
• emergency battery: Victron Energy BV (2 units, class-relevant) providing 96 hours of critical systems backup.

 

Battery Chargers:

• Delta Elektronika SM series rack-mount power supplies (120V DC and 330V DC circuits). Charging time 4–6 hours for full charge.
• Emergency battery charger - Delta Elektronika ES series. Emergency 12V charging cable also included.
• 120V DC charging cable (HP ILM-type connectors).
• 330V DC charging cable (HP ILM-type connectors).

 

Shore Power:

• Shore power input via dedicated sub charging unit 220V AC single phase or 3-phase compatible.
• Dedicated charging cables for 120V DC propulsion packs and 330V DC system.
•  Sub charging unit on dedicated pallet.
• Shore power supply - rack-mount Delta Elektronika SM series (multiple units).
• Shore-side charging is via Delta Elektronika power supplies with dedicated cables and connectors.

Control & Monitoring:

• PLC module - IBI LA IS FPA-C (Siemens-compatible).
• UI touchscreen - Panel PC with SSD, 19" touch display.
• Pressure sensors - ATMS range (3 units covering 1 bar, 5 bar, 10 NHbar).
• Proximity switches - Maha proximity switch (3 units).
• Micro-switch SPDT with flying lead.
• 3-position stay-put selector switches (yellow, 240V on/off).
• Freon sensor (aircon gas monitor) - Consilium / U-Boat Worx.
• GPS sensor - Navilock / U-Boat Worx.

Cable & Connector Systems:

• A comprehensive cable and connector inventory is carried, including Harting Han range (C, D, Q, Eco-B series), Seatronics SubConn, Burton dummy connectors, and DLOC locking sleeves.
• Multiple cable specifications are stocked covering power, signal and hybrid configurations.

Navigation & Communication Equipment

• USBL system - Evologics SCR transceiver, 17–34 kHz.
• USBL pole - U-Boat Worx.
• USBL mounting block - U-Boat Worx (UBW-E).
• USBL topside cable - 35m.
• USBL replacement transducer with impulse connector included.

Acoustic Communications (UWT):

• Surface station - Ocean Technology Systems STX-SB (Aquacome), refurbished.
• STX-SB transducer - 8–16 kHz.
• STX-SB handheld microphone (HHM).
• STX-SB rechargeable batteries (2 units).
• STX-SB smart battery charger (EU).
• Internal UWT headset.
• UWT topside headset.

Sonar & Pinger:

• Multi-frequency pinger - JW Fishers MFG Inc, JWF.
• Pinger receiver unit - JW Fishers (boat deployment, class-relevant).
• Pinger buoyancy collar.
• Pinger setup kit.
• AA lithium-ion batteries for pinger.

 

Surface Communication:

• VHF handheld radios - ICOM (M/DD DSC), 2 units.
• Weather meter / barometer - Kestrel / U-Boat Worx.
• Kestrel wind/weather meter included.

 

Surface Officer (SO) Equipment:

• Surface Officer communication unit.
• SO Officer logbook - U-Boat Worx.
• Stopwatch - Fastime / U-Boat Worx.
• Apple iPad (Air, 64GB WiFi) with cover — 2 units.
• iPad charging cable (Lightning to USB).
• Clipboard cases.
• Dive flag.

On Board Equipment

Survey & Camera Equipment:

• GoPro 9 Black action camera.
• DIGIPOWER Re-Fuel battery pack.
• FlyMount Stativa adapter (action camera on rail mount).
• SanDisk 1TB MicroSDXC Extreme Pro card.
• T-Housing aluminium housing.
• T-Housing adapter.
• Camera head jubilee clips.
• Camera bracket.
• Laptop mount for camera system.

Ventilation:

• External portable AC unit - Enzo Olimpia Splendid — BTU max, 9m² (We Supply Yachts).

 

Workshop & Tools:

• Wera Click Torque A set.
• Click torque C push/L adjustable torque wrench 40–200 Nm.
• Tube benders - 6mm, 8mm, 10mm (pairs — submarine store and bending kit rack).
• Tube cutter 3–28mm SS.
• Countersinker set (3 pieces).
• Hex head Allen wrench drill bit set.
• Calipers 0.01mm resolution.
• Stanley FatMax professional tool case (2 units).
• RAKO stackable warehouse bins.
• Dewalt DCB XR Li-Ion 18V/4Ah battery and charger.
• Dewalt DC VNX-J 18V vacuum cleaner (wet/dry).
• LED inspection lights - Brennenstuhl HL (2 units).
• Head torch - LED Lenser SEO.
• Tape measure.
• O-ring pick.
• Menaluxx DM micro kit for vacuum.
• Acrylic polish sets (2).
• Innoprotect B spray / Innoshine B spray.
• Molykote medium lubricant.
• Aquashield grease 4oz.
• Silicon spray 400ml.
• Loctite SI (ml).
• Contact cleaner aerosol spray 200ml.
• Self-amalgamating tape black (2 locations).
• Sofnafilm CD-grade 1kg.
• Spray bottles (multiple).
• Blue cleaning cloth roll.
• Blue microfibre cloths.
• Scotch-Brite general purpose hand pad.
• Cable ties — black, cold-weather resistant (multiple sizes).
• Ziplock bags (multiple sizes)
• Circli sets (14pcs, M8 external SS ST).
• Painter's brushes (Cola artist brushes).
• Hammrite metal paint, black high gloss 500ml (2 units).
• Gardena retractable 15m water hose.
• Slim Jim waste bin.
• Human weighing scale.
• Krooon Oil coolant SP pink 5L.
• VARTA CR2 professional lithium battery.
• Varta Industrial PRO AAA battery.
• Varta LR44 battery.
• Duracell Ultra Power AA alkaline 9V.
• Spare Parts Inventory - Available on Request.

Life Support Systems

Oxygen Supply:

• Oxygen is supplied from multiple stainless-steel cylinder banks via MedOx Medical Oxygen systems with flow switches and stainless gauges (Wega Med). An oxygen booster pump (Haskell MSB) is provided for cylinder replenishment.
• Main O₂ cylinders - 3 × U-Boat Worx white oxygen sub tanks (BKS serial series), size L, oxygen-clean.
• Medical oxygen banks - 3 × MedOx Medical Oxygen Cylinders, L/200 Bar (UTCL/WUA serials).
• Emergency HP air feed tank - Luxfer / U-Boat Worx, 12L, class-relevant.
• HP air cylinders - 6 × U-Boat Worx (4 × 12L main + 2 × 12L reserve), port and starboard positions.
• Oxygen self-rescuers - Draeger OxyK (refer to Life Support Log).
• Oxygen booster pump - Haskell MSB.
• O₂ regulators, needle valves, ball valves and gauges included.
• DIN HP air fill adapters and DIN bend plug with bleed.
• Airpress retractable HP air hose (5m).

 

CO₂ Scrubbing:

• Carbon dioxide is absorbed by a Sofnolime-based scrubber system using CO₂ absorbent blankets (lithium hydroxide sheets) and a James Fisher & Sons BHV CO₂ scrubber cartridge. Sufficient Sofnolime is carried on two separate pallets.

• Sofnolime - CD-grade, two pallet consignments.
• CO₂ absorbent blankets - Micropore / U-Boat Worx, refer to Life Support Equipment Log.
• Scrubber sheet hangers included.
• CO₂ Scrubber unit - James Fisher & Sons BHV.

 

Atmosphere Monitoring:

• Draeger Air Monitor X-am - 2 × primary units (sensors CO₂/H₂ class-relevant).
• 1 × spare Draeger X-am unit.
• Draeger OxyK training mask.
• Draeger battery holder (ABT type).

Safety Equipment

Pyrotechnics & Signalling:

• Hand flares — red - Comet brand (multiple units, 2 locations).
• Orange hand smoke signals - Comet brand (multiple units, 2 locations).
• Rocket parachute flares - Comet brand (multiple units, 2 locations).
• Ikaros coastal flare pack FLR (2 packs).
• Watertight containers for flares (2).
• 24-hour glow sticks (multiple, 2 locations).

 

Emergency Lifting & Recovery:

• 1T subsea airlift bags - Unique Seaflex Buoyancy Units, TALB type (2 units with serial numbers).
• Emergency lifting hook with Dyneema line (diameter as specified).
• HP emergency lifting tank - Luxfer dive bottle, 12L, class-relevant.
• Rope assembly port.
• Towing bridle.
• Tag lines.
• Sub tow line - U-Boat Worx.
• WICHARD snap shackle with swivel eye 6mm.
• HMB bow shackle T with securing pin.
• Cable grip LMG-I type.
• Carabiners (multiple).
• Yale cable grip (for tow cables).
• Skylotec fall arresters (2 units).
• 1m, 2m and 3m round sling lifting strops (multiple).
• Climbing hooks.
• 2T lifting strops.

 

Emergency Provisions:

• Emergency food packs - 7 units (CE-FO serial series), class-relevant.
• Emergency water packs - refer to Life Support & Equipment Log, class-relevant.
• Life jackets - 5 units (serials recorded), class-relevant.
• Safety dive knife.
• First aid kits Cat-C - 2 units.
• Mini hacksaw and Wurth hacksaw 300mm.
• Bolt cutters 600mm (2 sets).

 

Fire-Fighting Equipment:

• Fire extinguisher - Sea Fire NFG (extinguishing agent Novec FK-5-1-12), class-relevant.

General Equipment

Lifting & Handling

• LASHING SING plates (multiple).
• Cam buckle straps 5m.
• Polypropylene HR line 10m.
• Dyneema rope 5mm × 50m.
• Braid line White/Blue 50m.