Orders from India and U.A.E. for Fincantieri

The “Abu Dhabi class” design of the corvette for the U.A.E., due for delivery early 2011, has been developed from the “Cigala Fulgosi”, on the basis of which four “Comandanti” class vessels were built for the Italian Navy. In addition to an option for a second sister ship, the contract also comprises provision to the U.A.E. Navy of logistical support and training for crew. What makes the order even more important for Italian industry is that the ship’s combat system will be supplied by Selex Sistemi Integrati, a company in the Finmeccanica group.
The corvette for the U.A.E. will be 88 m long, 12 m wide and have a displacement at full load of 1,650 t. The ship will be able to reach a speed of 25 knots with an autonomy at 14 knots of over 3,000 sea miles thanks to two diesel engines of 7,000 kW. Accommodation will be available for a crew of approximately 70.
 

The Indian Navy, on the other hand, has exercised its option for a second fleet tanker which was included in the contract signed in 2008, with delivery in the last half of 2011, a sister ship to the first fleet tanker currently under construction and due for delivery in 2010.
Fincantieri has been following the Indian market closely. Following delivery in 2007 of the "Sagar Nidhi", an oceanographic vessel for the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) of Madras, the company has continued its co-operation with the shipyard of Cochin for the design of the engine, technology transfer and the provision of complementary services for the construction of the Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC) currently under construction. Fincantieri has completed the functional and detailed design of the propulsion system and assistance at the Indian shipyard is soon due to start up.
The Indian fleet tanker on the other hand will be 175 m long, 25 m wide and have a displacement at full load of 27,500 t. Powered by two diesel engines of 10,000 kW the ship will be able to reach a maximum speed of 20 knots.