Fincantieri, one of the most important shipbuilding complexes in the world, and the Ministry of Defense of Qatar today signed a contract in Rome for the construction of seven new generation units included in the national naval acquisition programme.
The signature took place between the commander of the Naval Forces of the Emirate of Qatar, Staff Major General Mohammed Nasser Al Mohannadi, and the Chief Executive Officer of Fincantieri, Giuseppe Bono in the presence of the Ministers of Defense of the two Countries, Khalid bin Mohammed Al Attiyah and Roberta Pinotti.
The contract, which is worth almost 4 billion euros for Fincantieri, provides for the supply of seven surface vessels, including four corvettes over 100 meters long, one amphibious vessel (LPD - Landing Platform Dock) and two patrol vessels (OPV - Offshore Patrol Vessel) and support services in Qatar for a further 15 years after delivery of the units. All the units will be built entirely in the Group's Italian shipyards starting from 2018, ensuring 6 years of work and an important impact on the main Italian defense companies.
Fincantieri prevailed over other naval vessel builders thanks to a project considered to be the most advanced and innovative of all. This result was also achieved thanks to the experience gained by Fincantieri in the construction of hi-tech ships for some of the most prestigious foreign navies.
Fincantieri's Chief Executive Officer Giuseppe Bono said: “This is a day for Fincantieri to remember, because winning global competition for a program of this magnitude was anything but simple. We have achieved an exceptional feat, which allows the company to acquire world leadership in the military sector as well as in the cruise and offshore sectors. With this contract, Fincantieri achieves a true partnership with the Naval Forces of the Emirate of Qatar, which thus place themselves at the cutting edge of technology.
The increase in the backlog will ensure work for at least ten years, guaranteeing continuity of activities in the construction sites and thus creating the conditions to contribute to the growth of the country and increase shareholder value. Bono then concluded: "We have reached this goal with the help of an "Italian system" finally up to the ambitions of the large national companies and thanks to the fundamental role played in this operation by our Government and our Navy, which have actively supported until the final agreement is reached”.
