The Scottish Submarine Centre in Helensburgh has been shortlisted for a top technology award – alongside famous museums across the world.

The centre, on West King Street, will be up against museums in Denmark, Iceland, Los Angeles and San Francisco in the competition to be named the Visitor Attraction of the Year at the International AV Install Awards.

The winner will be announced at a ceremony in London today.

The centre is pioneering the use of immersive technologies by using 360-degree surround video and video mapping.

Brian Keating, the Centre’s founder and a volunteer with the Scottish Submarine Trust, said: “We are delighted and honoured to have been nominated and shortlisted for this award by the industry so soon after opening and look forward to continuing to explore how we can use digital immersive technologies to enable more powerful and engaging ways to bring heritage to life.

“With a 50 metre long, 360 screen and 3D video mapping solution power by 22 cinema projectors permanently installed at the centre we are in a great position to create world class immersive presentations right here in Helensburgh.”

Following an opening ceremony in front of invited guests last November, the facility opened its doors to the public in April to minimal fanfare, more than five years after the idea of celebrating Scotland’s submarine heritage in the town was suggested.

It is home to a Cold War midget submarine, X51 – also known as HMS Stickleback – the last of the famous X class submarines which were involved in some of the Royal Navy’s most daring and dangerous operations during and after the Second World War.

Although the submarine is too small for visitors to get inside, 26 projectors have been used to project images of what it looks like inside.

The museum was designed to honour the sacrifice, courage and innovation of the Royal Navy submarine service past and present as the entire fleet of Britain’s submarines have been relocated to nearby HMSB Clyde.

Jim Rogers, who also volunteers at the Centre, previously told the Advertiser: “As time goes on more and more things will be added, which is a great advantage.

“We’re hoping to add a memorial wall and videos of people telling their stories.

He added: “Over time people will also be able to have functions here and hire out the space for weddings and events. We’ll also be open for school trips.”

The Centre was the town’s first purpose-built tourist attraction since Henry Bell launched the PS Comet in 1812.