Tandanor
| Company type | Sociedad Anónima (state-majority-owned) |
|---|---|
| Industry | Shipbuilding, ship repair |
| Predecessor | Talleres Navales de Marina, Arsenal Naval Buenos Aires |
| Founded | November 10, 1879 in Buenos Aires, Argentina |
| Headquarters | Buenos Aires , Argentina |
Area served | International |
| Products | Vessels construction and repair services |
| Owner | Government of Argentina (90%), employees (10%) |
Number of employees | Over 6,000 (as of 1943) |
Tandanor (Talleres Navales Dársena Norte) is an Argentine shipbuilding facility situated to the south of Buenos Aires port. Alongside the Almirante Storni shipyard, it constitutes CINAR (Argentina's Industrial and Naval Complex), focusing on both vessel construction and repair services. Renowned internationally, it draws ships from around the globe, largely due to its strategic advantage: a Syncrolift shiplifting system that allows dry docking and concurrent maintenance across six slipways. In April 2019, Tandanor entered into a partnership agreement with City Bank aimed at fostering its development.
History
Established on November 10, 1879, during the presidency of Nicolás Avellaneda under the name "Talleres Navales de Marina," the enterprise originally provided upkeep for Argentine Navy vessels. It was rebranded as "Arsenal Naval Buenos Aires" in 1922 and later reorganized in 1971 as a state-majority-owned "sociedad anónima" adopting its present designation.
The corporation’s purpose was to serve the merchant marine fleet and oversee maintenance activities, operated collaboratively by the Navy and the National Ports Administration. Over time, it enhanced its infrastructure by adding workshops and docks.
By 1943, Tandanor’s workforce had grown to exceed 6,000 skilled employees, prompting the University of Buenos Aires to introduce a Naval Engineering curriculum in 1950 to fulfill industry needs. This era also saw the construction of the Navy’s training frigate, ARA Libertad.
In 1973, personnel from the TARENA shipyard were integrated into Tandanor along with new facilities. With eight docks operational by then, expansion became necessary due to increased maritime traffic in the South Atlantic. The Syncrolift shiplifting platform was installed in 1978 by Pearlson Engineering from Miami. The company underwent privatization in 1991 during President Carlos Menem’s administration but faced bankruptcy by 1999.
Under President Néstor Kirchner, Tandanor was re-nationalized in March 2007, reversing prior privatization decisions. The government retained a 90% stake while allocating 10% ownership to employees as recognition for their role in maintaining operations throughout challenging times.