ITALIAN FRIGATE “CARABINIERE” ARRIVES

Trieste/Fremantle, January 25, 2017 – The Italian Navy’s FREMM Frigate, Carabiniere, will today arrive in Fremantle, Western Australia on the first leg of the vessel’s month-long visit to Australia.

Carabiniere will be in Fremantle for several days and open to the public on January 26, 2017, before heading to other Australian ports.

The FREMM Frigate has been designed and built for the Italian Navy by Fincantieri, one of the world’s largest shipbuilding groups and number one by innovation and diversification.

Fincantieri has been short-listed for consideration by the Australian Government under the SEA 5000 - Future Frigate programme to deliver nine frigates for the Royal Australian Navy.

Chairman of Fincantieri Australia, Mr Dario Deste said Carabiniere will visit Australia over January and February to showcase the strengths and qualities of the vessel designed and built by Fincantieri for the Italian Navy.

“Carabiniere is a well-proven unit – commissioned in 2015 and deployed under challenging operational circumstances including Operation Atalanta, an anti-piracy activity, the first undertaken by the European Union Naval Force, where the vessel acted as flagship off the coast of Africa.

“Carabiniere has at all times performed to the highest standards and expectations – she is a working example of the high quality, high performance naval vessels built by Fincantieri.

“While in Western Australia, Fincantieri executives will also meet with representatives of local businesses involved in Australia’s shipbuilding supply chain and to explore every opportunity to establish partnerships with the local industry.

“Fincantieri has so far designed and built five Italian FREMM Frigates for the Italian Navy – including those in the Anti-Submarine Warfare configuration sought by the Royal Australian Navy, with a further five frigates to be delivered over the next four years”.

“Carabiniere and the other frigates in the Bergamini class are tangible evidence of our company’s capabilities and skills and we are very proud to have the opportunity to show the vessel to Australian officials and the wider community in Australian waters over the next month,” Mr Deste said.