EMGEPRON CEO, ATECH, SPE Águas Azuis, thyssenkrupp Marine System and Alm Olsen Navy Commander at the Tamandaré Frigate keel laying
Source: DefenseNET – Special Coverage by Marcelo Lobo
Marking another important phase in the construction of the Tamandaré frigate, the Brazilian Navy and Águas Azuis (Special Purpose Company (SPE), composed of the companies thyssenkrupp Marine Systems, Embraer Defense & Security and ATECH), performed the keel laying of the ship, on March 24th. The ceremony, which took place at the facilities of the company thyssenkrupp Estaleiro Brasil Sul, in Itajaí-SC, was attended by the Commander of the Navy, Admiral Marcos Sampaio Olsen; as well as civil and military authorities from the Ministry of Defense, the Brazilian Navy, and the naval industry.
Traditionally present in shipbuilding, the beating occurs when the keel, the “backbone” of the vessel, is concluded, enabling the structuring of the other parts.
However, the evolution of engineering and the modern production processes adopted in the Tamandaré Class Frigate Ship Program (PFCT) allow ships to be built in blocks. Therefore, in the case of the Tamandaré Frigate, the keel laying was characterized by the positioning, in its building site, of an important structural block, weighing approximately 52 tons and corresponding to one of the ship’s engine rooms, where two engines, gear reducer and several auxiliary equipment will be installed.
The Director General of Navy Material, Admiral de Esquadra Bettega, emphasizes the importance of this advance in the PFCT, which is so strategic for the Naval Force and for the country’s sovereignty:
“We witnessed the meeting of tradition with the pressing technological modernity, resulting in Marinha do Brasil: Protecting our wealth, taking care of our people optimizing production and increasing the security of employees and information.”
Oliver Burkhard, CEO of thyssenkrupp Marine Systems, added: “We will provide the Brazilian Navy with state-of-the-art frigates that bring together the latest in naval technology, innovation and robust combat capability.
Advantages
This modern construction model, which foresees the production in blocks to be built later, offers several advantages over the old model. This way, it is possible to install accessories and foundations in advance, besides facilitating the placement of equipment on board and making it possible to work in several stages in a segregated manner in each unit. The process also increases employee safety by keeping open spaces longer during construction.
The innovations involved in the PFCT extend throughout the entire production chain. Historically, projects of this size are developed from a large quantity of printed documents, such as drawings, procedures, and manuals, which require many copies and recurrent updates. In this sense, the shipyard implemented a methodology for engineering projects baptized “Paperless”, which consists in eliminating the use of paper drawings in the production line of the frigates, transforming them into digital files, which brings benefits to the security of the information contained in the documents, due to the confidentiality required in a military project, and to the environment.
Next steps
The PFCT chronogram is progressing according to plan, and currently presents an evolution of 34% of its totality. For the next stages, the building of the block that forms the other engine room of the Frigate is planned, with the positioning of the equipment and engines in place.
After that, the blocks will complete the ship’s central structures. It should be noted that, of the more than fifty structural units that make up the construction sequence of the first Tamandaré Class Frigate, about a quarter are in the process of structural assembly at thyssenkrupp Estaleiro Brasil Sul, and others are already cut and shaped, with panels and sub-assemblies completed.
As for the qualification of the personnel who will be responsible for the maintenance of the ship’s systems, about 50% of the activities on Systems Engineering and Integrated Logistic Support have already been concluded.
According to information provided by the Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems Press Office, the construction schedule for the Tamandaré Class Frigates is advancing according to plan and is currently 34% complete. For the next stages, the building of the block that forms the other engine room of the frigate is planned, with the positioning of the equipment and engines in place. After that, the blocks will complete the ship’s central structures. It should be noted that of the more than fifty structural units that make up the construction sequence of the first “Tamandaré” Class Frigate, about a quarter are in the process of structural assembly at thyssenkrupp Estaleiro Brasil Sul, and others are already cut and shaped, with panels and sub-assemblies completed.
As for the qualification of the personnel who will be responsible for the maintenance of the ship’s systems, about 50% of the activities on Systems Engineering and Integrated Logistic Support have already been concluded. The launching of the “Tamandaré” Frigate is estimated for mid-2024 and its delivery to the Brazilian Navy at the end of 2025. The cutting of the hull plate of the second “Tamandaré” Class Frigate (possibly the future F-201 “Jerônimo de Albuquerque”) is planned to take place later this year.
Increasing the protection of Brazilian Jurisdictional Waters (AJB)
Conducted since 2017 by the Brazilian Navy, executed by Águas Azuis and managed by the Naval Projects Management Company (EMGEPRON), the Tamandaré Class Frigates Program is the most modern and innovative naval project developed in the country, providing for the construction, in national territory, of four war ships of high technological complexity.
The vessels must achieve operational capacity to protect the AJBs, generating technology transfer and perpetual license, and promoting local industry and Shipbuilding in the country. The Brazilian Navy foresees that the Program, as a whole, can generate about 2 thousand direct jobs and 6 thousand indirect jobs.
History
As a highlight of the stages already accomplished, on June 21, 2022, a prototype of the engine room section was concluded, used for the qualification of several processes related to the manufacture of the vessels.
On September 5, 2022, the hull plate of the first Tamandaré Class Frigate was cut, considered the main milestone of the beginning of the construction phase of the first Tamandaré Class Frigate.
