Fincantieri News

Aussies are reputed to be a nation of gamblers who would bet on two flies crawling up a wall. That might be anyone’s race, but when predicting what the most popular alternative fuel will be, the odds seem to be increasingly in favor of LNG.It seems there is now a clear pathway where previously LNG was considered more of a transition fuel that didn’t have a strong presence in 2050 shipping fuels. New ambitions and new technologies are making it a stronger contender despite the…

Fincantieri has marked the start of construction on the first of two next-generation FREMM frigates of the EVOLUTION version, known as FREMM EVO, at its Riva Trigoso (Genoa) shipyard.The contract for the construction of the two new FREMM EVO units was signed in July 2024 by Orizzonte Sistemi Navali (OSN), a joint venture owned by Fincantieri (51%) and Leonardo (49%), and OCCAR (Organisation Conjointe de Coopération en matière d'Armement).It is part of the multi-year FREMM program aimed at the renewal of the Italian Navy's fleet through the construction of next-generation frigates.

VARD has signed an MoU with Brazilian state-owned company EMGEPRON that aims to foster future cooperation on national defense programs and promote the exchange of knowledge in emerging technologies.Emgepron is linked to the Ministry of Defence of Brazil through the Command of the Navy. In addition to project management, the company commercializes Brazilian naval defense products and services.Located in Pernambuco, Vard Promar is one of the most modern shipbuilding facilities in South America, with the infrastructure and technical capacity to support both defense and commercial projects.

Eni, Fincantieri and RINA have produced a new report: “Sustainable Maritime Transport Outlook” which is focused on the maritime sector and developed with the technical support of Bain & Company Italy.The study aims to contribute to accelerating the decarbonization of the maritime transport sector, in line with the Net Zero target for 2050. It forms part of the broader framework of the agreement signed on March 25, 2024, by Eni, Fincantieri and RINA, with the shared goal of establishing…

Fincantieri and TUI AG have signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) for the design and construction of two new cruise ships for the Marella Cruises brand.The value of this agreement, subject to financing and other typical terms and conditions, is considered as very important, which for Fincantieri represents the value of over $2.1 billion.The agreement represents a major step for Marella Cruises, which is venturing into newbuilding for the first time and has chosen Fincantieri as its strategic partner for this transformation.At the same time…

Fincantieri has held a keel laying ceremony for Seven Seas Prestige, the ultra-luxury cruise ship being built for Regent Seven Seas Cruises.The keel laying ceremony took place at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Marghera, in Venice.Seven Seas Prestige is the first of two next-generation ultra-luxury cruise ships for Regent Seven Seas Cruises, owned by Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings.The vessel is scheduled for delivery in 2026.During the event, three specially chosen coins were welded…

The Switch, a provider of power electronics for the marine industry, has signed a multi-million-dollar contract with Vard Electro to deliver equipment for five diesel-electric hybrid walk-to-work vessels.The Switch will supply its DC-Hub technology to multiple vessels on order at Vard Electro, a subsidiary of Vard, a Fincantieri company.With a total of 15 DC-Hubs to be delivered, the project showcases the increasing demand for flexible and future-proof power distribution systems.The five diesel-electric hybrid walk-to-work vessels of the VARD 3 32 design will provide maintenance…

Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri has delivered Norwegian Aqua cruise ship to Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL).Norwegian Aqua is the first ship of the expanded Prima Plus Class that Fincantieri is building for NCL.At 156,300 gross tons and a length that spans 1,056 feet, Norwegian Aqua is 10% larger than the first two Prima Class vessels, Norwegian Prima and Norwegian Viva, which also feature the craftmanship of Fincantieri.In addition to the delivery of Norwegian Aqua, the Fincantieri shipyard in Marghera will experience another milestone tomorrow…

Fincantieri Marinette Marine’s Board of Directors approved Jan Allman to assume the duties as FMM’s CEO beginning this week. Current FMM CEO Mark Vandroff is returning to Fincantieri Marine Group in a new role as the Senior Vice President of Government Relations in Washington D.C.Allman is quite familiar with Fincantieri operations in Northeast Wisconsin, as she has served as the VP and General Manager of Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding since April 2023, and previously served as…

EDGE and Fincantieri have signed a new memorandum of understanding (MoU), deepening their cooperation through joint venture Maestral, which will be focused on the design, development and creation of unmanned systems for critical underwater infrastructure protection and seabed mapping, next-generation submarines, drone-carrier ships, and lightweight torpedoes.The MoU is based on both companies collaborating to develop underwater technologies, supporting the United Arab Emirates…

Battered by Covid, the cruise industry was down but not out. Today it is setting records in passenger count + the size and cost of a new fleet.Post-Pandemic, the fortunes of the big cruise companies have brightened dramatically. A late December, 2024 earnings release from Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE: CCL), encompassing brands including Carnival Cruise, Holland America, Cunard, Princess Cruises and others, says it all: “This has been an incredibly strong finish to a record year,” said CCL’s CEO Josh Weinstein, in its statement.

Maestral, an Abu Dhabi-based shipbuilding joint venture between Fincantieri and EDGE, has lined up a major ‘In-Service Support Strategic Partnership Project’ for the entire navy fleet of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), worth over $520 million.The contract to Maestral will be awarded by Tawazun Council, an independent government entity that works closely with the Ministry of Defence and security agencies in the Gulf country.The value of the agreement is of approximately $524 million over a five-years period.Maestral will serve as the industrial strategic partner…

TUI Cruises, a joint venture between German TUI Group and Royal Caribbean Cruises, has taken delivery of the first of two liquefied natural gas (LNG) and marine gas oil (MGO) powered cruise ships Fincantieri is building for the shipowner.With approximately 160,000 gross tons, the dual-fuel powered InTUItion-class ship forms the backbone of TUI Cruises’ new fleet.Named Mein Schiff Relax, the ship is able to use LNG and is future-proof with the ability to utilize low-emission fuels such as bio- or e-LNG…

Fincantieri and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCL) have signed a multi-billion dollar agreement for the construction of four new cruise ships.With a gross tonnage of approximately 226,000 tons, the new units will be the largest ever built for NCL.The ships will be built at the Fincantieri Monfalcone shipyard, with the first unit to be delivered in 2030 and the others to follow in 2032, 2034, and 2036.Fincantieri deemed the contract ‘very important’, which means its value exceeds $2 billion.

Fincantieri’ shipyard in Muggiano has hosted the renaming ceremony of the two Multipurpose Combat Ship/PPA (MPCS) vessels sold to the Indonesian Navy.The ships are part of the contract signed by Fincantieri in 2024, valued at approximately $1.23 billion euros.Originally built as the fifth and sixth units for the Italian Navy, the two ships, formerly named Marcantonio Colonna and Ruggiero di Lauria, have now been renamed KRI BRAWIJAYA-320 and KRI PRABU SILIWANGI-321.The supply…

Fincantieri has signed a series of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Saudi Arabia. These agreements underline the company's interest in this region following the establishment of the subsidiary Fincantieri Arabia for Naval Services in 2024.The agreements reached testify to Fincantieri's strategic commitment to promoting innovation, sustainability and industrial development through a series of collaborations with Saudi entities and international partners.In line with the Vision 2030 program launched by Saudi Arabia…

Fincantieri and Marc-Henry Cruise Holdings LTD, Joint Owner/Operator of Four Seasons Yachts, celebrated the launch of "Four Seasons I" at the Ancona shipyard, the first ultra-luxury ship under construction for Four Seasons Yachts, which will be delivered to end of this year and which will set sail in January 2026. The launching ceremony was attended by Fincantieri's President, Biagio Mazzotta, the CEO and General Manager, Pierroberto Folgiero, the General Manager of the Merchant Ships Division…

Fincantieri Marinette Marine (FMM) will receive $3 million from the State of Wisconsin to improve marine infrastructure along the Menominee River where the company builds surface combatant ships for the U.S. Navy.Governor Tony Evers and the Wisconsin Department of Transportation announced today that five in-state projects will receive more than $10 million in Harbor Assistance Program grants. These grants are intended to strengthen supply chain reliability, support waterborne freight and assist with economic development of Wisconsin’s coastal communities.

Fincantieri and Hera Group have established CircularYard, a new company aimed at developing an innovative integrated waste management system in Fincantieri's eight Italian shipyards with an approach based on the circular economy.The result of a partnership between the multi-utility and the leading global shipbuilding company, the new company aims to oversee and improve the entire waste management process at all Fincantieri shipyards in Italy and, in the future, abroad.Almost $13.4…

Vigor announced that Mark Norris has joined the company as Vice President of Marine Fabrication, to be based in the company's Vancouver, Washington facility.Vigor is currently in production on the Maneuver Support Vehicle (Light), or MSVL, the U.S. Army’s new generation landing craft. He will be responsible for growing and maintaining an experienced, skilled team, while leading Vigor’s defense and commercial marine fabrication projects.“We are fortunate to have someone with Mark’s wealth of experience and knowledge joining at a critical time for Vigor’s Marine Fabrication division…

Marine electrical systems provider Vard Electro, part of Fincantieri’s Vard Group, has named Hans Tore as its new General Manager.Hans Tore has been working at Vard Electro since 2017. He started as System Integrator before he became a Project Manager.From June 2021 he took on the position as Vice President for Electrical Installation Operations and was promoted to Senior Vice President Elelectrical Installation Operations with effect from January 1, 2024."I’m honored by my promotion to General Manager and excited to continue driving Vard Electro’s growth under our current strategy.

Fincantieri has re-launched the Fincantieri Foundation as part of its commitment to building a more inclusive world by bridging the past and the future.Established in March 2008, the Fincantieri Foundation is committed to the protection of the unique heritage of documents and artefacts related to civil and military shipbuilding, an "industrial archaeology" that also represents a cultural legacy for the country.The new era begins with the appointment of a new Board of Directors…

Each year, as we prepare for the largest U.S. based maritime industry conference in New Orleans, we tend to look back on the state of the industry and initiatives that were announced from the conference that took place the year before. 2023 provided us with plenty to talk about. In September of 2023, while the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the global shipbuilding industry were fixated on “emissions” and alternative fuels, U.S. Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro held the opening meeting of the Government Shipbuilders Council.