Navy launched the Submarine Base of Ilha da Madeira – Itaguaí

On July 17, the Brazilian Navy activated the Submarine Base of Ilha da Madeira (BSIM), located in Itaguaí Naval Complex, in the metropolitan region of Rio de Janeiro. The base is part of the Submarine Development Program (PROSUB), which aims at to produce four conventional submarines and the first Brazilian submarine with nuclear propulsion. The enterprise is to occupy the status of the most modern naval base in the Brazilian Navy and will house the first conventional nuclear propulsion submarine in Brazil, which will be built by Itaguaí Construções Navais (ICN), formed by the OEC and the French company Naval Group.

During the Base activation ceremony, the General Director of Nuclear and Technological Development of the Navy, Admiral Marcos Sampaio Olsen, highlighted the path taken since the strategic partnership between Brazil and France, established in 2008, which started the PROSUB. “In the context of this large undertaking, of substantial amplitude for the Navy, the BSIM was conceived as an asset capable of supporting such submarines, means of technological complexity, which will materialize an appreciable contribution to Naval Power until 2031,” he said.

On the occasion, the Admiral highlighted the important participation of the national industry in the conception of the undertaking, giving Odebrecht a special mention: “The nationalization of the equipment composing this infrastructure was supported by a broad process of technology transfer for the benefit of the participating national companies, contributing to raising the level of science, technology and innovation in the country and the very industries involved, including the creation of approximately 14,000 direct and indirect jobs. Once the grandiosity of this great, laborious and challenging undertaking has been verified by a court expert, it is necessary to consign from the General Directorate of Nuclear and Technological Development of the Navy a public manifestation of recognition to Odebrecht, represented herein by its Contracts Director”.

This is the conclusion of another important stage of the PROSUB. In 2018, the submarine Riachuelo, the first of four diesel-electric propulsion submarines, was launched into the sea. In December of this year it is planned to launch into the Humaitá Sea. Two other submarines of the same model, Tonelero and Angostura, are scheduled to be delivered in 2022 and 2023 respectively. The last and most emblematic, until now called SN-BR, with nuclear propulsion, should be ready in 2029.