Shippingtelegraph: Giorgia Meloni to Bahrain for major shipbuilding collaboration

In the presence of Giorgia Meloni two major companies signed an agreement aimed at exploring new opportunities for collaboration in the shipbuilding sector.

Bahrain-based ship repair and marine services firm Arab Shipbuilding & Repair Yard (ASRY) and Italy’s shipbuilding group Fincantieri sealed a deal to jointly evaluate opportunities for the design and construction of surface military vessels up to 80 meters in length, intended for use by the Bahrain navy and coast guard.

The signing took place on the sidelines of the recent 46th Gulf Cooperation Council Summit in the presence of His Royal Highness Salman bin Hamad Al-Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

ASRY’s agreement with Fincantieri will also explore the design and construction of similar-sized offshore vessels, as well as potential export contracts in the Gulf region.

Additionally, the two companies will collaborate on maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services for military, commercial, and offshore vessels, as well as the exchange of know-how in naval design and production process optimization.

Signed by ASRY’s chief executive officer Ahmed AlAbri and Fincantieri’s chairman Biagio Mazzotta and general manager of naval vessels division Eugenio Santagata, the partnership agreement represents a significant opportunity for Fincantieri to enter the Bahraini shipbuilding market.

According to Fincantieri, the deal will further consolidate the Group’s strategy and presence in the Middle East, including through possible collaboration with MAESTRAL, the joint venture between Fincantieri and EDGE.

“This agreement strengthens our strategic position in the Gulf and confirms Fincantieri’s desire to develop long-term industrial partnerships with leading partners such as ASRY,” said Pierroberto Folgiero, chief executive officer and managing director of Fincantieri. “By combining complementary skills and converging visions, we are laying the foundations for a solid and structured presence in the Bahraini shipbuilding market, in line with the objectives of our integrated export platform in the Middle East.”

ASRY also signed a partnership agreement with Roboze, a company in additive manufacturing technologies for high-performance super-polymers and composite materials, to establish an industrial facility dedicated to advanced additive manufacturing. In accordance with Roboze, the new plant will be located within ASRY’s premises in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

The facility is designed to directly support marine MRO operations, as well as the oil & gas, energy, aerospace, and defense sectors.