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104 DEFENCE & SECURITY | PROJECT POLA POLA

In November 2018 a ceremony took place at the
ASTIMAR 20 naval shipyard in Salina Cruz, Mexico, that
not only marked a major milestone for the Mexican Navy,
but also a potentially global paradigm-shift in the way
that advanced naval platforms will be built in the future.
The fl agging and launching ceremony was in itself a
justifi ed cause for celebration, but what made it unique
was the fact that it took place just 20 months after work
began on building the vessel. For the building of top-
end sophisticated naval vessels, this speed is unheard of
and indeed it is acknowledged to have set a new world
record for the modern era.

Of course, this was no ordinary project. The ARM Reformador
(Reformer), is a Mexican version of the Damen SIGMA 10514, a
proven design that is already in service with a number of navies.
There, the class is designated the POLA, the acronym for the
Patrulla Oceánica de Largo Alcance, which translates as Long-Range
Ocean Patrol Ship. The ARM Reformador is so-named as it marks a
new stage in the process of reforming the operational capabilities of
the Mexican navy and strengthening the Mexican naval industry.

107 metres in length and with a beam of 14 metres, the ARM
Reformador will be able to sail at speeds of more than 25 knots
and spend more than 20 days continuously at sea. “This vessel will
be capable of carrying out various missions such as safeguarding
Mexican sovereignty, international security cooperation, long range
search and rescue operations and humanitarian aid,” said Frank
Verhelst, project director at Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding
ARM REFORMADOR: (DSNS). “ARM Reformador will also enable the Mexican state to
increase its surveillance coverage and the protection of its maritime
interests beyond its Exclusive Economic Zone.”
REFORMING THE MEXICAN NAVY The power of SIGMA combined with local shipbuilding
This vessel has been built using modular construction techniques,
AND THE SHIPBUILDING INDUSTRY with six modules accounting for the entire structure. Four of these
have been built in Mexico and two at DSNS in the Netherlands.
These last two were then transported to ASTIMAR 20 for the
fi nal integration under Damen supervision. “In this way the vessel
is being built for Mexico, in Mexico, by Mexicans” said Horacio
Delgado, sales manager in charge of the project. “Damen remains
the main contractor though, bearing fi nal responsibility for quality
and performance. The key to success in these multi-yard projects
is excellent process control and a fully-developed build strategy
from the outset that forms the framework for the project from which
everyone works,” continues Frank.