The bathyscaphe was named after the Belgian Fonds National de la Recherche Scientifique (FNRS), the funding organization for the venture.

FNRS also funded the FNRS-1 which was a balloon that set a world altitude record, also built by Piccard.

However, Scaldis' crane was not strong enough to lift FNRS-2 while its float was filled, and this proved to be the detail that would end FNRS-2's career.

An unmanned test dive to 4,600 feet (1,400 m) was successfully completed, but owing to technical problems, the support crew were unable to empty its float of the gasoline that was used for buoyancy.

Scaldis attempted to tow FNRS-2 back to port, but it was battered by ocean waves and sprang a gasoline leak.