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.
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