The Brazilian Navy commissioned its new helicopter carrier Atlântico (A 140) in a ceremony at the UK naval base in Devonport on June 29.
Atlântico, formerly known as HMS Ocean, was bought by Brazil after the Royal Navy decommissioned it after 20 years of service.
PHM Atlântico (A 140), PHM standing for Porta-Helicópteros Multipropósito or multi purpose helicopter carrier, was refitted by Babcock and BAE Systems before being transferred to Brazil.
The helicopter carrier’s new crew manned the ship for the first time during the commissioning ceremony and is now set to undergo Flag Officer Sea Training (FOST) off the coast of Great Britain before taking the ship to Brazil. Atlântico is expected to reach its Arsenal do Rio de Janeiro (AMRJ) homeport on August 25.
Momento de muito orgulho e emoção, a tripulação embarca pela primeira vez no navio PHM Atlântico, o mais novo Porta-Helicópteros Multipropósito da @MarinhadoBrasil !! ?? #PoderNaval #MarinhadoBrasil pic.twitter.com/IscpraWhZz
— Marinha do Brasil (@marmilbr) June 29, 2018
Brazil bought the former Royal Navy ship earlier this year for a reported price of £84 million. HMS Ocean was officially decommissioned from Royal Navy service in a ceremony attended by Queen Elizabeth, who is the ship’s lady sponsor, on March 27.
Ocean concluded her final deployment as a commissioned Royal Navy ship on December 19, 2017. On February 9, 2018, the helicopter carrier entered her Devonport Naval Base homeport with a 203-meter decommissioning pennant.