Today Argentina celebrates the Naval Industry Day, a date that highlights the relevance of this strategic sector for the country's development. This commemoration dates back to 1961, when the government of President Arturo Frondizi implemented a revolutionary plan, through Decree 7,992/61, for the renewal and expansion of the Argentine merchant and naval fleet, promoted by Rear Admiral Horacio Esteverena. One year later, in 1962, the National Executive Power officially declared September 12 as the Naval Industry Day, in recognition of this effort.
This program, known as the Esteverena Plan, was an ambitious project that sought to build 37 ships in a ten-year period, which meant an unprecedented boost for the national shipbuilding industry. The initiative was key not only for the renewal of the fleet, but also for the promotion of national production, generating employment and developing associated industries.
The 1960s marked a before and after in the history of the Argentine shipbuilding industry. Thanks to the national shipyards, such as the Río Santiago Shipyard and the workshops of the Puerto Belgrano Naval Base, the number of ships in the merchant and war fleet increased significantly. This work, started in 1934 with the construction of ships for the Navy, was consolidated in the following decades, when the country positioned itself as a reference in the continent.
In this context, the creation of Empresa Líneas Marítimas Argentinas (ELMA) and other organizations, such as Astilleros y Fábricas Navales del Estado (AFNE), consolidated the national productive capacity. Under Esteverena's leadership, ELMA reached 58 units in 1961, marking a milestone in the history of Argentine maritime transportation.
The impact of Decree 7.992/61, signed by Frondizi, was transcendental not only for the fleet, but also for the country's economy, modernizing and expanding the Argentine merchant fleet. The Argentine naval industry has not only been vital for the transportation of goods and people, but also plays a crucial role in the technological development and defense of the country.
On this day we pay tribute to all workers, engineers, technicians and entrepreneurs who are part of the shipbuilding industry, one of the fundamental activities for national sovereignty and maritime trade. To celebrate the Shipbuilding Industry Day is to recognize the importance of a strategic sector for the logistic integration of the country and its insertion in global trade, as well as for the generation of employment and industrial development. In a constantly changing global context, the consolidation of a strong and competitive naval industry is key to ensure Argentina's sovereignty and sustained growth.
