In the facilities of the Río Santiago Shipyard (ARS), the Argentine Navy completed the incorporation of its two new Cadet Training Boats (LICA). After years of challenges and setbacks, the ARA “Ciudad de Ensenada” and ARA “Ciudad de Berisso” were received by the naval force in an official ceremony attended by the governor of the Buenos Aires province.
Designated as Cadet Training Boats (LICA), these vessels are intended to be used for the training and formation of future Argentine Navy personnel. Among the tasks that the new cadets will be able to learn on these new units are basic and advanced navigation, damage control, at-sea replenishment on a safe and robust platform. The launches feature a continuous main deck and a foredeck, as well as a double bottom from the forward bulkhead of the engine room to the forward locker. All accommodations for the cadets will be below the main deck, while the officers and classrooms are above said deck.
Local companies, such as REDIMEC, are involved in the construction of the LICA. The contribution of the Tandil-based company includes conceptual design, development of basic and detailed engineering in collaboration with the shipyard and the Navy, as well as the implementation of integrated bridge navigation consoles, and the integration of equipment – data fusion – incorporating some proprietary developments.
In addition to the new LICA, the Argentine Navy also received from the Astillero Río Santiago the new gate for Dry Dock 2 at the Arsenal de Puerto Belgrano, allowing larger vessels, such as Panamax-type ships, to be dry-docked, which they cannot currently accommodate. With its construction and acquisition, through an inter-administrative agreement, it replaces the previous gate, which was obsolete and degraded for the current force requirements, allowing the useful length of the dock to be extended from 222 meters to approximately 238 meters.
These works, carried out by 60 ARS personnel, including engineers, workers, and specialized personnel, over 18 months. The investment in this stage of the project was made with resources provided by the National Defense Fund (FONDEF), reaching the amount of $ 70,605,996 pesos and USD 2,753,744 dollars.
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