The steel cutting ceremony for the first of four next-generation Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) that Fincantieri will build for the Italian Navy took place on 24 September at the Riva Trigoso shipyard (Genoa).
The ceremony was attended, among others, by the General Manager of Fincantieri’s Naval Vessels Division, Dario Deste, the Director of the Naval Armaments Directorate - NAVARM, Admiral Chief Inspector Giuseppe Abbamonte, and the CEO of Orizzonte Sistemi Navali, Giovanni Sorrentino.
This program, put in place to contribute to the modernization and renewal of the Italian Navy's units, envisages the construction of four vessels, with an option for additional two, with the first delivery scheduled for 2027. The overall value of the first four ships, contracted by Orizzonte Sistemi Navali (OSN), a Joint Venture owned by Fincantieri (51%) and Leonardo (49%), is approximately 1.2 billion euros, including the related logistical support.
The OPV program responds to the need to ensure adequate capabilities for presence and surveillance, maritime patrolling, merchant traffic control, protection of lines of communication and the exclusive economic zone, as well as operations to protect against threats derived from marine pollution, such as toxic liquid spills.
With a length of about 95 meters long, a displacement of 2,400 tons and the capacity to accommodate 97 crew members on board, these new patrol vessels will be marked by a package of technological solutions, as well as standards of excellence in automation and maneuverability, that will make them suitable for operating in a wide range of tactical scenarios and weather conditions.
Among the most innovative features is the integrated naval cockpit, developed for the Italian Navy’s Multipurpose Offshore Patrol Vessels (PPAs), co-produced by Fincantieri NexTech and Leonardo. This represents a generational leap, allowing the control of engines, rudders, and platform systems, as well as some combat system functions, by just two operators - pilot and co-pilot - thus optimizing efficiency and safety.
The OPV program marks a major achievement for Fincantieri, further strengthening its position as a global leader in naval defense with its FCX product range, which includes these new patrol vessels. This project not only reinforces the company’s strategic role as a partner of the Italian Navy, but also deepens its collaboration with Leonardo through Orizzonte Sistemi Navali, showcasing Italy’s expertise in defense and in advanced naval integration.
Fincantieri is one of the world’s largest shipbuilding groups, the only one active in all high-tech marine industry sectors. It is leader in the construction and transformation of cruise, naval and oil & gas and wind offshore vessels, as well as in the production of systems and component equipment, after-sales services and marine interiors solutions. Thanks to the expertise developed in the management of complex projects, the Group boasts first-class references in infrastructures and is a reference player in digital technologies and cybersecurity, electronics and advanced systems.
With over 230 years of history and more than 7,000 ships built, Fincantieri maintains its know-how, expertise and management centers in Italy, where it employs 10,000 workers and creates around 90,000 jobs, doubling the employment figure worldwide thanks to a production network of 18 shipyards operating on three continents employing over 21,000 direct workers.
