Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri and the Qatar Emiri Naval Forces (QENF) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Doha aimed at starting discussions about QENF personnel’s education and training patterns.
The signing between the General Manager of the Naval Vessels Division of Fincantieri, Dario Deste , and Major General Abdulla Hassan Al-Sulaiti Commander of the Qatar Emiri Naval Forces, took place at the Doha International Maritime Defense Exhibition & Conference (DIMDEX) 2024, held last week in Qatar.
The company and the navy plan to deepen discussions on content and modalities for Fincantieri to continue and improve Italian education and training patterns with the support of the Italian authorities and the other defense partners.
The patterns will be based on an innovative concept of education and training and the continuous growth of the QENF maritime capabilities to grant full integration and interoperability with the Qatari on-ground and air military capabilities.
In June 2016, the Qatar Armed Forces and Fincantieri signed a contract for the construction of seven naval vessels, including four corvettes , one amphibious vessel (landing platform dock), and two patrol vessels , and the provision of in-service support, integrated logistic support, industrial training for crews and base maintainers and operative training for crews.
In May last year, the fourth and last of Qatar’s Al Zubarah-class corvettes built by Fincantieri was delivered.