Submariners will be charting new waters next month when the Royal Naval Submarine School at HMS Raleigh in Torpoint begins limited training.

School staff have moved into a new large three-storey building at the naval base and are preparing it for action. Banks of computers and equipment which are part of mock-ups of submarine control rooms will go on-line first for operator training.

Additional equipment will come on-line throughout the year and the school is due to be at full training capability in December.

In an official ceremony to mark the relocation of the school from Gosport in Hampshire to South-East Cornwall following a defence spending review, submariners led by Commander Geoff Thomas marched through HMS Raleigh's main gates and formally requested permission to move into their new home from the commanding officer of the base, Commodore Roger Lockwood.

Their request was granted and the contingent continued their march through the base with naval and civilian staff lining the route to witness the occasion.

Commodore Lockwood said: "I am delighted to welcome the submariners to their new home. They are a most professional and unique group of people and I look forward to them becoming an integral part of my training team."

Work has progressed steadily since October 1998 when the first turf was cut for the new school which will bring approximately 200 permanent naval personnel and a large number of naval students to Torpoint and will undoubtedly bring benefits to the local economy.

The school is a purpose-built building which will be more efficient than the previous building in Gosport. It will cover the whole spectrum from initial training to commanding officers qualifying courses. As well as operator training, the personnel who will maintain the equipment at sea will also be trained at the school.

Years of preparation have gone into the project which has given the navy the opportunity to site the school close to the operational submarine base in Plymouth. This will give submariners a wider range of job opportunities in one geographical area.

An existing building at HMS Raleigh has been renamed as Dolphin Block after the submarine school at Gosport and will be used for the administration of the school.

The formal opening of the new school is due to take place in February 2001.