Argentine shipyard comes to life again

The Domecq Garc?a shipyard in Buenos Aires, Argentina, is slowly coming to life again after having been closed down in the 1990s. This specialized shipyard, set up in the 1970s to maintain the Argentine navy?s submarines, was sold in the 90s, with all the equipment for submarine maintenance reverting to the navy and the yard itself eventually closing in 1994, despite the fact that it was arguably the best shipyard of its kind in Latin America.

Getting the yard back on its feet started in 2003 when the navy submitted its proposal which was immediately authorized by the Defence Ministry and given an initial budget spread over two years. Now the shipyard finances itself with revenue meeting the fixed costs of the yard and leaving a small profit that is reinvested in improving the yard?s infrastructure with the revenue arising from work carried out for the private sector.

When the yard was closed, in 1999-2000 the navy was forced to send its submarines to Brazil for repairs although, now that Domecq Garc?a is operational, this work can be carried at the yard and the overhaul of the submarine San Juan is due to start any day.