Asmar and Asenav finalized the delivery of two barges corresponding to the Escotillón IV project, vessels that will be destined to operate with the first two multipurpose ships of the Chilean Navy.
During a ceremony held at Asenav’s facilities in Valdivia, which was attended by regional, municipal and maritime government authorities, the articulation of the alliance between both shipyards was highlighted.
Rear Admiral José Miguel Hernández, Director of Shipyards and Workshops of the Chilean Navy, stated that “the delivery of these two barges represents a concrete result of the work that Asmar is promoting together with the national industry to advance in the implementation of the National Shipbuilding Policy. This project shows that collaboration between Asmar and Asenav can translate into real capabilities, applied experience and an effective strengthening of national shipyards in the face of long-term challenges.”
For his part, Fernando Rodríguez, General Manager of Asenav, commented that “the delivery of these barges highlights key progress in the consolidation of naval capabilities in Chile. We not only meet high technical standards and demanding deadlines, but we directly contribute to strengthening the operational and logistical capacity of the Navy. This project demonstrates that collaboration between ASMAR and private industry can translate into real solutions for the country, projecting a solid foundation for the future challenges of the national maritime industry.”
Each of the landing barges will operate from the two multipurpose ships of the Chilean Navy’s Escotillón IV Phase 1 Project. Manufactured in naval steel, the units are characterized by their dimensions of 19.78 meters in length, 5.6 meters in beam and 1.1 meters in draft, the latter measurement explained as the vertical distance between the keel or lowest part and the waterline, indicating the submerged depth of the ship.
With capacity to transport a crew of three people, each vessel was specifically designed for landing cargo ashore, therefore the shallow draft will allow them to approach the coastline in shallow areas, facilitating the transport and unloading of trucks, heavy equipment of up to 30 tons and other means of logistical support, as well as humanitarian tasks. In this way, the operational response of the future multipurpose ships will be expanded.
Likewise, this project is linked to the next stage of Escotillón IV, which considers the upcoming launch of the first multipurpose ship Magallanes scheduled for mid-June 2026. Thus, the delivery of both barges is integrated into a broader shipbuilding program, aimed at strengthening logistical and operational capabilities for the Chilean Navy together with boosting the development of national shipyards.
