Navy advances in construction of the first Polar Ship manufactured on Brazilian territory

The Brazilian Navy (BN) took another important step in the construction of the Polar Ship (NPo) “Almirante Saldanha” by holding the traditional Keel Laying Ceremony of the vessel, on October 17th o 2023, at the Jurong Aracruz Shipyard (ES). A milestone in the construction of a ship, the keel laying occurs when the keel, considered the “backbone” of the vessel, is completed, enabling the structuring of the other parts that will make up the ship.

Bringing together the most advanced in shipbuilding technology, the construction model of the NPo “Almirante Saldanha” envisages the production of blocks, which are built separately and are subsequently joined together to shape the ship. This way, it is possible to install accessories and foundations in advance, in addition to facilitating the placement of equipment on board and allowing work in different stages in a segregated manner in each unit.

During the ceremony, the laying of the keel was symbolized by the positioning of the block corresponding to the auxiliary engine room at the front of the vessel and by the placement of a commemorative coin in the structure, following ancient traditions.

The positioned block is a metallic structure weighing approximately 100 tons, where air conditioning and refrigeration system equipment, firefighting system pumps, water and sewage treatment structures, as well as fuel transfer pumps will be installed. The next steps will be the construction of the block that makes up the engine room behind the ship and the subsequent positioning of the electrical generation and propulsion equipment.

POLAR SHIP

Conducted since 2019 by BN, executed by Polar 1 and managed by the Naval Project Management Company (EMGEPRON), this project will culminate in the construction, for the first time in Brazil, of a ship with the capacity to operate in the region's cold waters Antarctica. The delivery of the NPo “Almirante Saldanha is scheduled for the second half of 2025.

The ship will be around 103 meters long, have a hangar for 2 medium-sized aircraft, an autonomy of 70 days and a crew of 95 people, including 26 researchers. During the construction phase, 600 direct jobs and 6,000 indirect jobs have already been created, in addition to promoting the Brazilian shipbuilding industry and the national technological base.

PROHIDRO

The construction of the Polar Ship is part of the Program for Obtaining Hydroceanographic and Antarctic Support Resources (PROHIDRO), which provides for the obtaining of hydroceanographic ships to be used in the Blue Amazon and in polar waters so that the BN can fulfill its duties relating to hydrographic, oceanographic, meteorological, cartographic and nautical signaling activities, ensuring support for the application of Naval Power, in addition to providing transport and logistics support for the Comandante Ferraz Antarctic Station (EACF). Among the expected gains from the initiative are the improvement in the collection and accuracy of geospatial marine resources data in Brazilian jurisdictional waters and in international waters of interest to the country, improving the effectiveness of navigation aids and supporting national research in the marine environment.

INNOVATIONS

The NPo “Almirante Saldanha” will perform the same activities as the Oceanographic Support Ship “Ary Rongel”, but with improved capabilities. In this sense, it will enable: reduction of the time needed to refuel the EACF, with the inclusion of modern cranes and greater loading and maneuvering capacity for the new ship; greater safety in the ship's approach to the beach, for disembarking material and personnel, due to sophisticated navigation and control systems; and the expansion of the area that can be visited by researchers, including oceanic and terrestrial regions.