Fincantieri launches one, lays keel for another Al Zubarah-class corvette

A technical launch of one Qatari Al Zubarah-class corvette and the keel laying of another took place last week at Fincantieri’s Muggiano shipyard in La Spezia.

Fincantieri said that the launched Al Zubarah-class corvette was the Damsah while the keel-laying ceremony was held for the Sumaysimah.

They are respectively the second and fourth of the Al Zubarah-class corvettes ordered to Fincantieri by the Qatari Ministry of Defence within the national naval acquisition program with deliveries respectively in 2022 and 2023.

The ceremony, held in a restricted format and in full compliance with anti-contagion requirements, was attended by Deputy chief of staff for administration and logistics affairs for Qatar Armed Forces Major General Mubarak Mohammed A.K. Al-Khayarin and Italian Navy Maritime Commander for Area North Rear Admiral Giorgio Lazio. Fincantieri was represented by its general manager of the naval vessel division Giuseppe Giordo.

The units, designed consistent with the RINAMIL rules, will be highly flexible and capable of fulfilling different kinds of tasks, from surveillance with sea rescue capacities to being fighting vessels.

They will be about 107 metres long, 14.70 metres wide, and equipped with a combined diesel and diesel plant (CODAD), with a maximum speed of 28 knots. The units will be able to accommodate 112 persons on board.

Furthermore, the corvettes will be capable of operating high-speed boats such as RHIB (Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat) through lateral cranes or a hauling ramp located at the far stern. The flight deck and hangar are sized for hosting one NH90 helicopter. 

To remind, Fincantieri a few months ago launched Musherib, the first-in-class offshore patrol vessel ordered by the Qatari Ministry of Defence. The technical launch of the newbuild took place also took place at the Muggiano yard. The launching ceremony was followed by the first steel cutting for the Sumaysimah corvette.