RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Brazil has an extensive maritime coast and about 95% of its foreign trade is conducted through waterways. In addition to strategic trade routes, highly valuable mineral deposits are located in maritime territories.
According to Fleet Admiral Almir Garnier, Navy Commander, the patrol and defense of Brazil’s maritime borders are about to be reinforced by four new submarines and Tamandaré class frigates.
According to the Commander, the first submarine will be delivered to the Brazilian fleet by end of this year, while the other three vessels will be completed during 2022. Submarine construction is considered a strategic industry by the Brazilian government, as it boosts industrial and technological development, in addition to providing training and ostensive patrolling along the immense Brazilian coast.
“This is the management system for the Blue Amazon. All this Brazilian heritage needs a management and coordination system that sees everything from above, from the side, from below,” said the Navy Commander yesterday, June 8.
Almir Garnier stated that one of the Navy’s roles is to define the Brazilian maritime borders through the presence of ships and contingents on permanent watch, which monitor and defend national interests according to the legislation in force.
Armed Forces in the pandemic
Regarding the Navy’s work during the pandemic, Garnier emphasized the logistical support for the distribution of medicines, food, clothing, vaccines and supplies to families in isolated locations in the country. “We are completely involved in this [fighting the pandemic]. Our technology center, along with the University of São Paulo (USP), developed and produced ventilators, which at the start of the pandemic were very critical. We performed disinfection of public places with our bacteriological warfare capability team, we conducted vaccination activities throughout the country, where access is more difficult,” he said.
The Fleet Admiral also recalled that the Navy helped in the distribution of food to truckers at the start of the pandemic, when most commercial establishments on federal highways were closed.
Ships of hope
Regarding the action of the so-called ships of hope – Navy vessels taking social initiatives to remote communities – Garnier said that one of the Navy’s roles is to provide citizenship and social assistance to the population.
“Often these remote families, in locations very distant from our territory, the only doctor, the only dentist they see in their whole lives is possibly a Navy doctor.”
According to the officer, the ships of hope attend 35,000 persons a year, in some 600 communities. “Indigenous people, Brazilians of various descents – all are assisted with the same affection,” he added.
Battle of Riachuelo
The commander also recalled the Brazilian Navy’s commemorative date, June 11, the day of the Naval Battle of Riachuelo. The battle, which occurred in Corrientes, Paraguay, was one of the decisive conflicts of the War of the Triple Alliance, between 1864 and 1870.
“It is important to say that we do not celebrate the battle itself, which is always painful. We lost many lives. We celebrate the moral values that emerge in times of adversity. These are the heroes we worship: Admiral Barroso, Sailor Marcílio Dias, Marine Officer Greenhalgh. Young men with dreams who sacrificed their lives to defend our flag, our sovereignty”, stated Fleet Admiral Garnier.
“The moral values that those patriotic Brazilians lent us are present to this day. They are sailors who, in times of adversity, overcome and move forward. That’s what we celebrate, those are the examples we want to perpetuate in our sailors and in the Brazilian people,” he concluded.