Astilleros y Maestranzas de la Armada (ASMAR) launched the multipurpose vessel LPD-93 Magallanes this Thursday at its Talcahuano facilities, the first of two units contracted under the Escotillón IV Phase 1 project for the Chilean Navy.
The launch marks the transition from the structural phase on the slipway to the outfitting, testing and commissioning phases that will lead to the vessel’s future entry into service. It is a particularly significant moment for a project involving a wide range of Spanish naval industry companies.
FJ’s role in the Escotillón IV project
Within this industrial network, FJ contributes an integrated package of Saval motorized valves and the Prior control system, configured according to the project’s specific requirements. The solution includes motorized valves selected to match the vessel’s electrical architecture, integrated with a control system designed to ensure secure remote operation, continuous status monitoring and effective response under demanding operational scenarios.
Prior is FJ’s proprietary control platform, developed for the management, supervision and actuation of critical systems in naval and industrial environments. Beyond valve actuation, it organises control logic, centralises status and alarm information, and facilitates operator interaction from dedicated control stations. By integrating valves, actuators and control platform under a single engineering responsibility, FJ reduces critical interfaces between subsystems and ensures technical coherence across the whole system — a particularly relevant advantage on multipurpose platforms like the LPD-93 Magallanes, where systems must interact reliably across different operational scenarios.
The same project also involves HTS, FJ’s sister company within Jove Group, supplying the sealing systems for electrical cable transits, with the requirement of fire resistance alongside watertightness against water, gases and smoke. Two specialised companies, each with their own technical scope, working within the same strategic project.
A strategic project within Chile’s naval plan
The Escotillón IV Phase 1 project is part of Chile’s National Naval Construction Policy 2025-2040 and the country’s Continuous National Naval Construction Plan, a strategy aimed at modernizing and expanding the Chilean Navy’s operational capabilities through the construction of multipurpose vessels with state-of-the-art technology.
Collaboration between the Spanish and Chilean naval industries on this type of project reinforces an industrial relationship with a proven track record: FJ has previously taken part in other programmes for the Chilean Navy, consolidating a technical presence that combines in-house manufacturing, international certification and the ability to integrate complete systems.
Next steps for the LPD-93 Magallanes
Following the launch, the vessel will move into the outfitting, sea trials and commissioning phases prior to its operational incorporation into the Chilean Navy. It is the first of the two units under the Escotillón IV Phase 1 project, consolidating a programme that combines the capabilities of Chilean shipyards with technology and components developed by the Spanish naval industry.
For FJ, participating in projects like this one confirms our position as a reference technical supplier for high-demand international naval programmes, with the capability to deliver integrated valve and control solutions where reliability and certification make the difference.
