An Australian delegation was among many visitors to inspect the Italian FREMM Frigate – designed and built by Fincantieri for the Italian Navy - on show at Doha International Maritime Defence Exhibition (DIMDEX) in Qatar in late March, 2016.
Fincantieri is a contender for both the Future Frigates (Sea 5000) and Offshore Patrol Vessel (Sea 1180) programs.
The Australian delegation, led by Commodore Phil Spedding, was invited on board the Italian Navy’s FREMM Frigate Carabiniere by the Italian Minister of Defence, Senator Roberta Pinotti and welcomed by Rear Admiral of the Italian Navy, Stefano Barbieri.
The delegation was briefed by Italian Navy representatives on the capability and performance of Carabiniere and the other three FREMM Frigates delivered by Fincantieri to the Italian Navy since May 2013. Fincantieri is contracted to build 10 Italian FREMM Frigates for the Italian Navy.
Carabiniere has been in service with the Italian Navy since 2015 and was one of more than 20 international warships on display at Doha Commercial Port.
Fincantieri is one of the world’s biggest shipbuilders, operating 21 shipyards with 20,000 employees and 80,000 sub-contractors globally.
In other Fincantieri’s news with an Australian focus, the company has been contracted by P&O Cruises Australia to deliver the first cruise ship built specifically for the Australian and New Zealand market and the largest to join the P&O Cruises’ fleet.
On April 2, Fincantieri and Carnival Corporation & plc have finalized contracts for the construction of five next-generation passenger ships for a total value which exceeds 3 billion euros. One ship will be built for the P&O Cruises Australia brand.
This ship will be 135,500-tonne vessels with a capacity of 4,200 passengers offering twice the capacity of the biggest vessel currently home-porting year around in Australia.
The new 323-metre vessel will have 2,100 guest rooms, be based year round in Australia, and offer passengers cruise itineraries from three to 10 days duration.
With average annual growth of 20 per cent in passenger numbers over the past decade, Australia is one of the fastest growing cruise markets in the world.