The TKMS naval shipyard has christened the first of four new frigates in Brazil. The know-how and design come from Germany, but the ships are being built locally.
The 550 invited guests included Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Defense Minister José Múcio Monteiro and other high-ranking representatives from Germany and Brazil. The godmother of the “Tamandaré” was Vera Brennand, the wife of the Brazilian Minister of Defense.
The Tamandaré-class naval vessel was built by Águas Azuis, a company founded by thyssenkrupp Marine Systems, Embraer Defense & Security and Atech. With a production area of 310,000 m², the site in Itajaí is TKMS’ hub for the South American market. The company has invested heavily in the Brazilian site, including the acquisition of a floating dock.
Frigate travels at 25 knots
The frigate with the construction number F200 has a length of 107 m, a displacement of 3,500 tons and a maximum speed of 25 knots. Previously, thyssenkrupp Marine Systems had built and delivered ultra-modern frigates for Egypt in record time.
Initiated by the Brazilian Navy in 2017, the Tamandaré-class frigate program is the country’s most modern and innovative naval project. The ships are intended for use in protecting Brazil’s territorial waters. The Tamandaré-class program also promotes technology transfer and local industry. It will create a total of around 2,000 direct and 6,000 indirect jobs.
thyssenkrupp Marine Systems is one of the world’s leading companies in the marine industry with around 7,800 employees at three shipyards in Kiel, Wismar and Itajaí (Brazil) as well as at locations worldwide. The company is a system supplier for submarines and naval surface vessels as well as for maritime electronics and safety technology. Around 3,300 employees work in Kiel, making it the largest shipyard location in Germany.
