Fincantieri has been short-listed by the Australian Government to bid to design and build nine new frigates for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), and has established its local company, Fincantieri Australia, and will open a new Australian headquarters in Canberra soon, according to a statement. 

Dario Deste has been designated Chairman of Fincantieri Australia and he will be supported by former Rear Admiral, Mark Purcell.

Deste said Fincantieri Australia will now manage the important phase of the shipbuilder’s participation in the competitive evaluation process for the SEA 5000 Future Frigates program.

“Fincantieri’s commitment to this project will be total and we will deploy all of the company’s strengths as a market leader. The FREMM Frigate we are offering is an absolute cutting-edge product. The company will engage with Government, businesses involved in the Australian shipbuilding industry and the supply chain, and other key players with a stake in the construction of the frigates in Adelaide, South Australia. Fincantieri Australia will be resourced with senior technical and other personnel recruited locally in Australia and drawn from Fincantieri’s global network of naval ship building executives,” he said.

“We are very happy with the team assembled so far and all of the people who will take part in with the team assembled so far and all of the people who will take part in bidding for this significant naval project will have an important role.

“I make particular mention of former Rear Admiral Mark Purcell, who has joined the team and whose experience will certainly be a very significant point of strength for Fincantieri”, Deste added.