Conversão de plataformas semissubmersíveis em bases-radar

Abstract

This study presents a proposal for the reutilization of offshore assets as a strategic alternative for the Brazilian Navy, aiming to promote the implementation of specific coastal monitoring programs. To support this proposal, similar offshore structure models already implemented by other countries’ navies for various purposes were analyzed. The conversion of decommissioned offshore platforms into floating naval bases emerges as a strategy to expand the Navy’s operational capacity by leveraging existing infrastructure. The study focuses on the technical and structural feasibility of converting semisubmersible platforms, employing computational modeling based on the Finite Element Method (FEM) to assess the structural behavior of the platform under different degradation scenarios due to corrosion and material aging (thickness loss of 10%, 15%, and 20%). The analysis is conducted on the local model of the platform’s pontoon structure, considering regulatory criteria established by classification societies for the acceptance of structural losses and reinforcement strategies, such as plate replacement. The results obtained indicate that, with the necessary structural adjustments, selecting these platforms for conversion is technically feasible, provided that the criteria presented in this study are met. Thus, the importance of evaluating all the criteria addressed in this study is emphasized to make the project viable, reduce costs, and contribute to Brazil’s maritime defense and sovereignty.