Page 45: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (February 2022)

COVER STORY U.S. NAVY SHIPBUILDING

New Fincantieri Florida Ship Repair Business is ‘Open’

Prompted by the Navy’s request to expand its ship repair Shipbuilding, but the Florida facility is well situated to handle capacity and help enable a better record of uptime for navy both Littoral Combat Ships built by Fincantieri Marinette Marine ships, particularly the ones built by Fincantieri Marinette Marine, as well as similarly sized military and commercial craft.

Fincantieri Marine Repair, a division of Fincantieri Marine The ship repair practice is seen throughout the Fincantieri

Systems North America (FMSNA), expanded to Northeast brand globally, particularly in the cruise and foreign military

Florida late in 2021, and in early January 2022 welcomed its sectors, and as Deste reasons “we obviously know best what we ? rst commercial customer to Commodores Point in downtown build. To the navy, maintenance and sustainment is a serious

Jacksonville, effectively marking issue,” said Deste. “We talk the start of operations in about increased number of northeast Florida. ships, and that is obviously “The U.S. Navy wanted very important. But we also additional maintenance and have to talk about how to keep sustainment support for those ships at sea as long as

Fincantieri-built military ships possible (with an ef? cient repair homeported in nearby Mayport, cycle). We don’t want to waste and that’s what we’ve done,” time (in the shipyard), we want said Dario Deste, CEO & to keep ships sailing; so it is

President, Fincantieri Marine important to have more quality

Group. “But there are other facilities where the ships can military, government and be maintained and repaired as commercial customers who quickly as possible.” need sustainment help as well, For the navy, keeping ships in especially in the southeastern shape and sailing is a mission

U.S.” imperative for national security;

According to Deste, the move to open the new facility and for the commercial market, it’s a business imperative to keep bring it up to ‘Fincantieri standards’ represents an investment of cash ? owing.

nearly $30 million – with the new 16,000-ton capacity drydock The ? rst customer for the new repair yard is a commercial expected to open in early 2023, serving as the biggest ticket vessel, and one that has special meaning: it is the recently- time – with additional investment to come. competed lique? ed natural gas (LNG) barge Clean Canaveral

Fincantieri Marine Group already has a well- and long- (pictured), which was built by Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding in established repair hub in Wisconsin in the form or Bay Sturgeon Bay, WI, and is in the yard for testing and trials.

ENDLESS SUPPLY OF MARINE HARDWARE ! &"$)$?""?!!&"$l • New, Used and Rental Options Available

AUTHORIZED YOKOHAMA • New Harness Installation 0r Harness Repair with Quick Turnaround

FENDER DISTRIBUTOR • Foam and Pneumatic Fenders Available

NEW & USED LARGEST INVENTORY IN THE USA

IN STOCK &

READY TO SHIP • Anchors • b?m]v • Hardware • ou7-]; • Dock • Buoys

WORLDWIDE • Chains • $o?bm] • Wire Rope • Blocks • Fenders • Spill Boom 24/7 ?????ƒƒƒ??????!!&"$l www.marinelink.com 45

MR #2 (34-49).indd 45 2/4/2022 1:26:58 PM