Asmar (Chile)

Astilleros y Maestranzas de la Armada (ASMAR), founded in 1960 and headquartered in Valparaíso, Chile, is a state-owned strategic defense company specializing in shipbuilding, repair, and maintenance services for the Chilean Navy and commercial vessels. ASMAR operates three main shipyards located in Talcahuano, Valparaíso, and Magallanes, supporting naval operations and offering services to international clients. Its ownership lies entirely with the Chilean State, under the Ministry of National Defense. ASMAR’s core activities include the construction of naval vessels, the maintenance and repair of warships and merchant ships, and engineering solutions for maritime operations. The company’s most important products and projects include the AGB-46 Almirante Viel icebreaker, delivered in 2024—the first of its kind built in the Southern Hemisphere—and the ongoing construction of a multipurpose amphibious transport ship under the Escotillón IV project. ASMAR is widely recognized as a leader in naval engineering and shipbuilding in South America. ASMAR was created to ensure the operational readiness of Chile’s naval fleet and has evolved into a modern industrial complex aligned with the National Continuous Shipbuilding Plan (PNCCN), which aims to produce all surface units required by the Chilean Navy domestically.