A chill tube (1) for the continuous casting of metals has a double T-shaped cross section in beam blank format. Inner contour (3) defining the cross section of the cast billet is cooled by cooling water, which is guided through cooling channels (4) in tube wall (2). Cooling channels (4) have a round cross section when manufactured. Inner contour (3) has rounded transitions (6) between wall sections (9) bordering a flange region (7) and a crosspiece region (8). The distance (A) between two cooling channels (4) adjacent to each other in transitions (6) is smaller than distance (B) in the remaining wall sections (9).