Construction begins in Brazil on first DCNS-designed Submarine

DCNS and its partner Odebrecht, through their joint company ICN (Itaguaí Construções Navais), launched construction of the first S-BR Scorpene class submarine under the Brazilian submarine programme. The ‘first cut’ ceremony, marking the effective implementation of the technology transfer agreement, was held in Itaguaí, Brazil, in the presence of the country’s most senior political officials. The ceremony held in presence of the Brazil President, Dilma Rousseff, the Brazilian Ministry of Defence, Nelson Jobim, the French Ministry of Defence, Gerard Longuet and the Chairman and CEO of DCNS President Patrick Boissier and for Odebrecht, the CEO, Marcelo Odebrecht. The start of construction work in Brazil on the first S-BR Scorpene class submarine is one of the most important milestones of the programme. It demonstrates that the engineers, technicians and workers trained at DCNS in France have acquired all the necessary knowledge and skills, particularly the steel forming and welding techniques used in the construction of the pressure hull. It points out also that Brazil has the state-of-the-art industrial facilities needed to produce latest-generation submarine hulls. All aspects of the programme are supervised by the Brazilian Navy, under a wide-ranging technology transfer agreement.