The Armed Forces of Malta awarded the Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri a contract for upgrade works on their offshore patrol vessel P61.
The P61 was built by Fincantieri ten years ago based on the design of Italian Coast Guard’s Diciotti-class patrol boat.
The contract was signed by Brigadier Jeffrey Curmi, Commander of the Armed Forces of Malta, and Gian Battista Corbetta, head of maintenance, refitting overhaul & conversion of Fincantieri’s naval services business unit.
According to the company, work on the vessel will cost an estimated 7 million Euro and will include upgrades to ship board systems with the aim of improving the reaction capability of the unit.
Work on the 53-meter-long vessel is scheduled to begin in the second quarter of 2017 in Italy, in the Fincantieri shipyard of Muggiano (La Spezia), and will last about 6 months.