Fincantieri cuts steel for Qatar’s first OPV
Fincantieri has cut steel for the Qatar Navy’s first Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) at its Muggiano shipyard in La Spezia, Italy, the company announced on 27 February 2019.
The Qatari Ministry of Defence has awarded a €4 billion contract to Fincantieri under the country’s national naval acquisition programme.
The contract covers the supply of seven surface vessels, including four corvettes, one amphibious vessel landing platform dock and two OPVs, as well as support services in Qatar for further ten years following the delivery of the vessels.
The first patrol vessel will be about 63m long and 9.2m wide and will have a maximum speed of 30kt. Its propulsion system will have four variable pitch propellers, two to starboard and two to the left, each in line with a diesel propulsion engine. The vessel will be able to accommodate 38 crew members.
The OPV will be a flexible type of ship capable of performing different kinds of tasks, from surveillance to being a fighting vessel. It will be also be capable of operating a rigid hull inflatable boat through a crane located at the stern.
More from Naval Warfare
-
![US Navy extends the deadline for submitting proposals for the Next Generation Logistics Ship]()
US Navy extends the deadline for submitting proposals for the Next Generation Logistics Ship
NAVSEA plans to select up to three suppliers for the concept design phase of the programme in Q2 FY2026.
-
![Advances in USV technology help develop tomorrow’s hybrid fleet]()
Advances in USV technology help develop tomorrow’s hybrid fleet
As services like the Royal Navy and US Navy aim to develop hybrid fleets to reduce reliance on and dangers to crewed vessels, L3Harris, Metal Shark and Red Cat step forward.
-
![South Korea displays domestic technology capabilities with KSS-III submarine launch]()
South Korea displays domestic technology capabilities with KSS-III submarine launch
Hanwha Ocean’s Jang Yeong-sil is the Republic of Korea Navy’s first 3,600t submarine and is the first of three boats in the military’s KSS-III programme.
-
![ST Engineering Marine expands capacity, seeks regional partners for growth]()
ST Engineering Marine expands capacity, seeks regional partners for growth
The company could be looking to collaborate with other Asian nations as well as countries further afield as it pushes ahead with its shipyard expansion plans.
