PRINTFINCANTIERI TO UPGRADE TWO VESSELS FOR KENYA NAVY
30 October 2008
On the occasion of the international exhibition Euronaval - the most important trade fair for the defence industries currently in progress in Paris-Le Bourget – Fincantieri has announced that the company has gained an order from the Ministry of the Defence of Kenya to carry out “mid-life” refitting of two of the Navy’s vessels, the “Nyayo” and the “Umoja”.
The contract will involve 12 months of work at the company’s yard in Muggiano (Spezia).
Fincantieri competed to win the order against competition from other leading industries in the sector (British, Dutch, South African).
The “Nyayo” and the “Umoja”, which are classified as “fast attack craft” were built at the British shipyards of Vosper Thornycroft and delivered in 1988.
They are currently the only two vessels in operation for the Kenyan Navy and will be tasked with patrolling the coast and intervening against smuggling and piracy.
The two 56.7-metre-long vessels have a displacement of 450 tonnes, can reach a maximum speed of 40 knots and accommodate a crew of 40.
This new order follows the recent upgrading of 4 “Lupo” class frigates (the “Lupo, “Orsa”, “Sagittario” and “Perseo”), built by Fincantieri for the Italian Navy and later ceded to the Peruvian Navy.
The order confirms Fincantieri’s strategy to strengthen its presence in the export market, both for new buildings and for refitting and post-sales support to foreign Navies.
The result marks the company’s renewed interest in the African market which is characterised by a substantial increase in demand for new vessels for Navies and Coast Guards, in response to the need to increase patrolling of the territorial waters and to combat acts of terrorism against maritime traffic, in addition to piracy and poaching.
Paris, 30 october 2008
The contract will involve 12 months of work at the company’s yard in Muggiano (Spezia).
Fincantieri competed to win the order against competition from other leading industries in the sector (British, Dutch, South African).
The “Nyayo” and the “Umoja”, which are classified as “fast attack craft” were built at the British shipyards of Vosper Thornycroft and delivered in 1988.
They are currently the only two vessels in operation for the Kenyan Navy and will be tasked with patrolling the coast and intervening against smuggling and piracy.
The two 56.7-metre-long vessels have a displacement of 450 tonnes, can reach a maximum speed of 40 knots and accommodate a crew of 40.
This new order follows the recent upgrading of 4 “Lupo” class frigates (the “Lupo, “Orsa”, “Sagittario” and “Perseo”), built by Fincantieri for the Italian Navy and later ceded to the Peruvian Navy.
The order confirms Fincantieri’s strategy to strengthen its presence in the export market, both for new buildings and for refitting and post-sales support to foreign Navies.
The result marks the company’s renewed interest in the African market which is characterised by a substantial increase in demand for new vessels for Navies and Coast Guards, in response to the need to increase patrolling of the territorial waters and to combat acts of terrorism against maritime traffic, in addition to piracy and poaching.
Paris, 30 october 2008