The upgraded Ocean Basin in Qinetiq’s Haslar Marine Technology Park, Gosport, was re-dedicated by the Princess Royal at the end of last month.

Originally opened by the Duke of Edinburgh in 1961, the basin is one of the largest testing tanks in the world, with 40,000 tonnes of clear water.

It is used by commercial and defence customers for manoeuvring model tests in calm water and sea-keeping model tests in wave conditions.

Qinetiq’s Chris Richardsen (www.QinetiQ.com) said: “Since the early 1960s, every class of UK submarine and all major surface warships have been tested at model scale in this facility.

“It is no exaggeration to say that the safe manoeuvring envelopes of the UK’s submarines are based directly on data measured in this basin.

"That is why the Ministry of Defence made a long-term commitment in 2008 to support the basin — under the Maritime Strategic Capability Agreement.”

That deal has enabled Qinetiq to make a significant investment in the ocean basin over the past decade.

Additionally, there has been a significant increase in its use — notably through a bilateral agreement with the French government, which evaluates its vessels there, and through a number of other foreign governments choosing to test their submarines at the facility.

After unveiling a plaque, the Princess Royal — following in the Duke of Edinburgh’s footsteps — conducted a ‘mixing the waters’ ceremony by pouring a small flask of Froude Water into the basin.

Mr Richardsen said: “Qinetiq is immensely proud of its link with William Froude, the founding father of naval hydrodynamics.

"In 1886, William’s son Robert Edmund transferred the Admiralty Experiment Works from Torquay to Haslar and — in a sentimental gesture — poured some water from Torquay into the first tank on this site.”