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The Submarine Development Program (Prosub)
was created in 2008, approved by a technology
transfer agreement between Brazil and France.
The objective of the program is to protect
Brazil’s vast natural assets, safeguarding
the country’s sovereignty in the seas, and
reinforce investment in its naval forces and the
development of its defense industry.
Fundação Getulio Vargas, through FGV Projetos,
was invited to take part in this initiative by
the Brazilian Navy. The Itaguaí naval base is a
540,000 m2 complex in Sepetiba Bay, in the
municipality of Itaguaí, in the state of Rio de
Janeiro. Brazil’s first nuclear-powered submarine
and four conventional submarines are being
assembled at this facility. Once operational, the
submarines will be based and maintained at the
Itaguaí Naval Base.
Brazil has an 8,500 km coastline and 3.5 million
km2 of territorial waters, containing countless
marine riches and diversity. For example, there
are the pre-salt oil reserves, estimated to amount
to as much as 35 billion barrels, and the “Blue
Amazon” zone, extending up to 200 nautical
miles (370 km) off the coast, rich in minerals and
biodiversity. Furthermore, 95% of the country’s
foreign trade takes place through shipping.
Within the program, the tracking and
supervision of the civil and naval works are the
responsibility of the Navy’s Civil Works Division
(DOCM). FGV Projetos was responsible for
developing and applying a model to analyze
compliance with the plans, advising on activities
involving the execution and strategic monitoring
of projects, and training DOCM technicians.
The methodology developed by the FGV Projetos
team is designed to present the continuity of
civil construction activities. The methodology
is structured into three topics – deadlines,
plans, and quality/services – contributing to the
continuous improvement of the execution work,
on time and in line with the planned quality
indicators. The effective application of the
procedures outlined by FGV Projetos, associated
with the execution of routines in the field, have
proven to be an effective tool to improve the
efficiency of the DOCM inspection team’s work.
DOCM has construction work monitoring
strategies. FGV’s work, therefore, respects the
Brazilian Navy’s standards and philosophy and
adds value to the physical construction activities.
Monthly reports are produced to support
the implementation of the construction work
monitoring program. These reports take into
consideration DOCM’s reference documents
and work strategy, such as, for example, Itaguaí
Complex’s schedules, plans and procedures. As
well as giving a comprehensive vision of the
work status at the different construction sites,
the reported information also enables greater
predictability of progress, supporting DOCM
in objective decision making regarding on-site
project activities.
The whole of this complex program actively helps
strengthen national industrial sectors that are of
strategic importance to Brazil’s socioeconomic
development. Prosub is strongly promoting
domestic industry, as it is prioritizing domestically
manufactured submarine components.