FINCANTIERI: OFFSHORE PATROL VESSEL “SHERAOUH” FOR QATAR DELIVERED

The latest order will increase Explora Journeys’ total fleet count from four to six vessels.

In the presence of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State of Qatar for Defence Affairs H.E. Dr. Khalid bin Mohamed Al Attiyah and Italian Minister of Defense, Hon. Lorenzo Guerini, the delivery of the second OPV (Offshore Patrol Vessels) “Sheraouh”, ordered to Fincantieri by the Qatari Ministry of Defence within the national naval acquisition program, took place at the Muggiano (La Spezia) shipyard.

The program is worth nearly 4 billion euros and envisages, other than 2 OPVs, 4 Corvettes over 100 meters long, and 1 LPD (Landing Platform Dock).

Attending the event were, among others, Staff Major General Abdulla Bin Hassan Al Sulaiti, Commander of the Qatar Emiri Naval Forces, Vice Admiral Enrico Credendino, Chief of the Italian Navy, H.E. Khalid bin Yousef Al-Sada, Ambassador to the State of Qatar in Italy, H.E. Alessandro Prunas, Ambassador of Italy to Qatar and, for Fincantieri, the Chairman, Gen. Claudio Graziano, and the CEO and General manager Pierroberto Folgiero.

Like its sister-ship, “Musherib”, delivered in January 2022, the OPV “Sheraouh”, has been designed in compliance with the RINAMIL for Fast Patrol Vessel (FPV) rules and is a flexible type of ship capable of performing several services, from surveillance to combat functions. It is about 63 meters long, 9.2 meters wide, with a maximum speed of 30 knots and it accommodates as many as 38 crew members.

Last May the keel laying of the LPD took place in Palermo, while in April Fincantieri delivered “Damsah” in Muggiano, the second of 4 corvettes, all within the same program for Qatar.

On the other hand, Italy-based shipbuilding firm Fincantieri has signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with MSC Group’s Cruise Division luxury travel brand, Explora Journeys, to construct a further two hydrogen-fuelled cruise ships.

The latest order will increase Explora Journeys’ total fleet count from four to six vessels and take the firm’s total investment in the fleet to €3.5bn.

This covers an additional €120m for fitting the EXPLORA III and IV vessels with liquefied natural gas (LNG) engines.

Italy-based shipbuilding firm Fincantieri has signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with MSC Group’s Cruise Division luxury travel brand, Explora Journeys, to construct a further two hydrogen-fuelled cruise ships.

The latest order will increase Explora Journeys’ total fleet count from four to six vessels and take the firm’s total investment in the fleet to €3.5bn.

This covers an additional €120m for fitting the EXPLORA III and IV vessels with liquefied natural gas (LNG) engines.

MSC Group Cruise Division executive-chairman Pierfrancesco Vago said: “This transition to zero-emissions operations for the maritime industry is the biggest challenge that we will ever face, and this will only be achieved by everyone playing their part – by investing in research and development and through significant investment both by companies but also governments.”

In May, Fincantieri floated out the first cruise ship, called Explora I, for Explora Journeys.