WASHINGTON D.C. – Fincantieri’s top leaders traveled to Washington D.C. and Wisconsin last week to meet with their U.S.-based business leaders, shipbuilders and government officials.
Fincantieri’s CEO Pierroberto Folgiero and Chairman Claudio Graziano spent several days in Washington D.C. meeting with key U.S. leaders and participated in strategic discussions with Fincantieri Marine Group. They also managed a visit to Northeast Wisconsin to meet American shipbuilders working on several navy vessels, including the first-in-class USS Constellation (FFG 62).
This was both Folgiero and Graziano’s first visit since they assumed their positions in May 2022. Folgiero stated that one of his main the reasons for the visit was to reaffirm the company’s commitment to the U.S. Navy. Fincantieri Marinette Marine earned the contract to build the future frigate in April 2020, initially a $795 million for the initial ship, with options for nine additional. The value of the contract and all options is approximately $5.5 billion. Since the original contract, the Navy has exercised options and ordered two additional frigates from FMM.
“This was my first visit to Wisconsin as CEO,” said Folgiero. “Chairman Graziano and I were impressed with what we saw, the energy of the people, the atmosphere, and the Marinette shipyard is one of the most modern I have ever seen.”
Marco Galbiati, who heads up Fincantieri’s U.S. business units, added that visits like this are important. “We get the opportunity to show our leaders our facilities and our vessels, but most importantly, a chance to meet our people.”
Another of Folgiero’s key points was to ensure the American team understands the importance of their efforts with the Constellation-class frigates as it relates to the company’s strategic five-year plan. “The world is watching, so now we must focus and execute.”
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For more information:
Eric Dent
Director of Communications
Fincantieri Marine Group
(202) 488-4783
Eric.dent@us.fincantieri.com
Fincantieri, one of the world’s largest and most diversified maritime companies, employs more than 21,000 shipbuilding professionals in 18 shipyards on four continents. Fincantieri operates in the United States through its subsidiary Fincantieri Marine Group. This company, which serves commercial and government customers, including the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard, has three shipyards (Fincantieri Marinette Marine, Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding and Fincantieri ACE Marine) located in Wisconsin on the Great Lakes.
WASHINGTON D.C. – Fincantieri Marine Group reached agreement on a contract with CREST Wind, a joint venture between Crowley and ESVAGT, to design and build a 288-ft. HAV 832 Service Operation Vessel (SOV).
SOVs are purpose-built vessels used to transport technicians to service and sustain operation of wind turbines at sea. Crowley is a U.S. maritime, energy and logistics solution company serving the offshore wind market while Denmark-based ESVAGT is the leading provider of SOV service in Europe. HAV Design AS, a leading designer of SOVs in Norway, designed this specific vessel.
Fincantieri Marine Group will have the team at Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding (FBS) along with Crowley’s on-site construction management group to complete the building of the Jones Act-compliant vessel to service offshore wind operations in the U.S. FBS will build the vessel at its shipyard in Sturgeon Bay, Wisc., and it will go into service in 2026. The vessel will serve the Dominion Energy wind farm off the coast of Virginia under long-term charter to Siemens Gamesa.
“We are proud to be associated with important ‘green’ projects like this,” offered Marco Galbiati, CEO of Fincantieri Marine Group. “The SOV market is one of the most interesting and important markets for our company.”
Bob Karl, senior vice president and general manager for Crowley Wind Services added, “The SOV for CREST Wind will bring the latest innovations and performance capabilities to support the emerging clean energy sector in the U.S. -- combining ESVAGT European designs and operating practices with Crowley’s safety and operational expertise of the premier U.S. vessel operator.”
Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding is currently building several LNG bunkering barges, including for Crowley, in addition to supporting the government work of sister-yard, Fincantieri Marinette Marine, where the Navy’s new Constellation-class frigates are under construction.
“We are excited to partner with CREST in the construction of this SOV,” said Craig Perciavalle, Vice President of FBS. “The incredible shipbuilding professionals here at FBS are eager to successfully execute this important strategic program and to continue to solidify our position as a premier shipbuilding supplier in the offshore wind market.”
Kristian O. Jakobsen, Deputy CEO of ESVAGT said, “The partnership between Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding and CREST has been developing for some time, and it has been a great pleasure to cooperate with such dedicated and accommodating professionals from FBS, and we look forward to continue the journey together within the green energy transformation in the U.S.”
For more information about available positions at Fincantieri and Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding, please visit: www.fincantierimarinegroup.com/careers.
For more information:
Eric Dent
Director of Communications
Fincantieri Marine Group
(202) 488-4783
Eric.dent@us.fincantieri.com
David DeCamp
Director of Communications
Crowley
(904) 727-4263
David.DeCamp@Crowley.com
Fincantieri, one of the world’s largest and most diversified maritime companies, employs more than 21,000 shipbuilding professionals in 18 shipyards on four continents. Fincantieri operates in the United States through its subsidiary Fincantieri Marine Group. This company, which serves commercial and government customers, including the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard, has three shipyards (Fincantieri Marinette Marine, Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding and Fincantieri ACE Marine) located in Wisconsin on the Great Lakes.
Crowley is a privately held, U.S.-owned and -operated maritime, energy and logistics solutions company serving commercial and government sectors with more than $2.9 billion in annual revenues, over 170 vessels mostly in the Jones Act fleet and approximately 7,000 employees around the world – employing more U.S. mariners than any other company. The Crowley enterprise has invested more than $3 billion in maritime transport, which is the backbone of global trade and the global economy. As a global ship owner-operator and services provider with more than 130 years of innovation and a commitment to sustainability, the company serves customers in 36 nations and island territories through five business units: Crowley Logistics, Crowley Shipping, Crowley Solutions, Crowley Wind Services and Crowley Fuels. Additional information about Crowley, its business units and subsidiaries available here: www.crowley.com.
ESVAGT is a dedicated provider of safety and support services for the offshore energy industry. ESVAGT was founded in 1981, and has a fleet of more than 40 vessels and approximately 1200 employees offshore and onshore. ESVAGT pioneered the SOV concept with its clients in 2010 and is today the largest operator of state-of-the-art SOVs and associated services – a backbone for the offshore wind industry. ESVAGT continues to develop the most innovative, safe, and efficient solutions and is a committed enabler of the green transition. Additional information about ESVAGT, its business units and subsidiaries here: www.esvagt.com.
STURGEON BAY, Wis. – Great Lakes shipbuilding and repair giant, Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding, broke ground on a new 19,000 sq. ft. machine shop at their Sturgeon Bay location today.
Inside the future 300-ft. long building, shipbuilders will have access to two overhead cranes capable of lifting 5 and 30 tons, respectively. At the other end of the building there will be offices, restrooms, a lunchroom and a tool room. The facility will primarily support Bay’s repair business.
Planning started nine months ago for the new building, which long-time construction partner A.C.E. Building Services is expected to complete later next year. A.C.E. is no stranger to the shipyard having built or renovated numerous buildings at the 63-acre shipyard over the previous 50 years. The Manitowoc-based company has garnered multiple awards for their work throughout Northeastern Wisconsin, and FBS is proud to once again collaborate on another important project.
“We are modernizing our infrastructure and replacing some very old buildings,” said Craig Perciavalle, Vice President & General Manager of FBS. “We are fortunate to have a great partner in A.C.E. [Building Services] to help us grow, but also to do so in a way that complements our surrounding community.”
“Not only will our Bay Shipbuilding team have an improved place to work year-round, but we believe that the use of this facility will reduce dust and noise impacts for those who live nearby the shipyard, as work that was previously completed outside will be moved inside the new building.”
Perciavalle added that this project is the final piece to $70 million of investment since 2020, which will “allow FBS to better support the critical repair service we provide the Great Lakes fleet, keep expanding our commercial new construction business, and to a lesser extent, grow the government side of our business.” Historically FBS has supported sister-shipyard Fincantieri Marinette Marine as they build warships for the Navy, but commercial repair and new construction remains Bay Shipbuilding’s top priority.
FBS was recognized for its exemplary safety record for a second year in row by the Shipbuilders Council of America. FBS also recently delivered several notable vessels; the largest LNG bunkering barge ever built in the U.S. and the Great Lakes freighter M/V Mark W. Barker. The Mark W. Barker is the first ship of its kind to be built by a Great Lakes shipyard in more than 35 years. Currently the team at Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding is building two additional LNG barges, both scaling larger than the LNG barge recently delivered.
Fincantieri, one of the world’s largest and most diversified maritime companies, employs more than 20,000 shipbuilding professionals in 18 shipyards on four continents. Fincantieri operates in the United States through its subsidiary Fincantieri Marine Group. This company, which serves commercial and government customers, including the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard, has three shipyards (Fincantieri Marinette Marine, Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding and Fincantieri ACE Marine) located in Wisconsin on the Great Lakes.
For more information:
Eric Dent
Director of Communications
Fincantieri Marine Group
(202) 488-4783
Eric.dent@us.fincantieri.com
MARINETTE, WIS. – August 31, 2022 – Fincantieri Marinette Marine officially started construction on the U.S. Navy’s first Constellation-class guided missile frigate today in Northeast Wisconsin.
The future USS Constellation moved into the next stage of development as shipbuilders began cutting steel for the ship with members of the Navy, representatives of elected officials and community leaders observing this material start to a class of ships.
Two years ago the Navy selected FMM to design and build the Constellation-class frigate, and since then the shipyard and its employees have been remarkably busy. The shipyard received extensive upgrades and new facilities to efficiently build these important vessels.
“We invested more than $300 million into our Marinette shipyard to build many frigates for the U.S. Navy,” said Marco Galbiati, CEO of Fincantieri Marine Group. “Using our new facilities and industry-leading best practices, we stand ready to deliver the two frigates a year the Navy requires.
The Navy is planning for at least 20 frigates to be built in the near future, and Fincantieri intends to be a driving force in this surface combatant community.
“We continue to work extensively with the Navy’s program office to complete first ship design to give the Navy the ship they want,” said Mark Vandroff, CEO of Fincantieri Marinette Marine. “We are better than 80% complete on ship design prior to starting construction, which is consistent with best practices across the naval shipbuilding industry.”
Fincantieri Marinette Marine is on contract to build the first three frigates, which the Navy named Constellation, Chesapeake, and Congress, with a historical nod to three of the original six frigates commissioned by the Navy in the late 1780s. FMM has contract options with the Navy for seven additional ships.
Fincantieri Marinette Marine used the European frigate FREMM as the basis for their frigate design, taking an operationally proven vessel in service around the world and making it even better.
To learn more about Fincantieri and to view and apply for jobs at Marinette or any of our locations in the U.S., please visit www.fincantierimarinegroup.com/careers.
Fincantieri, one of the world’s largest and most diversified maritime companies, employs more than 20,000 shipbuilding professionals in 18 shipyards on four continents. Fincantieri operates in the United States through its subsidiary Fincantieri Marine Group. This company, which serves commercial and government customers, including the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard, has three shipyards (Fincantieri Marinette Marine, Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding and Fincantieri ACE Marine) located in Wisconsin on the Great Lakes.
For more information:
Eric Dent
Director of Communications
Fincantieri Marine Group
(202) 488-4783
Eric.dent@us.fincantieri.com
STURGEON BAY, WIS – Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding delivered the 639-ft. bulk carrier, M/V Mark W. Barker, to its owner, Interlake Maritime Services, July 22, 2022.
The vessel is significant for several reasons, but most noteworthy is it’s the first of its kind to have been built by a Great Lakes shipyard in more than 35 years.
“We build for tremendous clients and many of them, like Interlake, are repeat customers,” said Craig Perciavalle, VP and General Manager of FBS. “We don’t take that for granted. As shipbuilders, it is special when we get to do what we love -- build great ships -- which ultimately help others complete their critical work.”
The vessel left Sturgeon Bay on July 27, and is expected to join the rest of the Interlake fleet supporting the transportation of raw materials and cargo throughout the Great Lakes region.
Perciavalle emphasized to the entire FBS workforce the important nature of vessels built in Sturgeon Bay. “Thanks to each member of the Bay team for their dedication and craftsmanship in achieving this significant milestone that will strengthen the Great Lakes fleet and the maritime industry overall,” said Perciavalle.
Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding was recently recognized by the Shipbuilders Council of America as one of the safest U.S. shipyards, an honor that Bay and sister yard, Fincantieri Marinette Marine, have received numerous time in the previous decades.
Together these shipyards and Fincantieri ACE Marine in Green Bay form a unique ‘system of yards’ that efficiently manages intricate and complex vessel construction projects for a variety of customers in the commercial, government, and military markets.
FBS is also one of the most significant repair shipyards in the Great Lakes, capable of receiving the largest vessels operating today, as well as being the preferred lay-up yard during the winter months. During that time, FBS performs important maintenance, repairs and inspections for vessels seemingly at work non-stop for the remainder of the year.
Fincantieri, one of the world’s largest and most diverse maritime companies, operates in the U.S. through its subsidiary Fincantieri Marine Group (FMG). This company, which serves commercial and government customers in the US, including the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard, has three shipyards (Fincantieri Marinette Marine, Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding and Fincantieri ACE Marine) located in the Great Lakes. www.fincantierimarinegroup.com
For more information:
Eric Dent
Director of Communications
Fincantieri Marine Group
(202) 488-4783
Eric.dent@us.fincantieri.com
WASHINGTON D.C. – July 7, 2022 – Fincantieri Marine Group and its board of directors announced today that its current general manager, Marco Galbiati, has been named as the new CEO effective July 6, while former CEO Dario Deste remains the company’s president.
Galbiati was FMG’s general manager, a role that he held since 2018. In this capacity he has been heavily involved in all aspects of the business and its efforts to grow the workforce in support of important commercial and military contracts.
Deste served as FMG’s president and CEO since 2018, and was recently promoted to lead Fincantieri’s Naval Vessels Division.
Galbiati started his business career in 1996 with Sapio Group, an Italian market leader in the industrial and medical gases sector, where he served as the group fincancial controller.
In 2007, Galbiati joined Fincantieri, where he served as a leader in various financial departments, ultimately rising to be head of financial planning and controls for the two most prominent business units: Naval Vessels and Cruise Ships.
Galbiati earned a degree in Economics from the University of Pavia.
Fincantieri Marine Group (FMG) serves commercial and government customers in the U.S., including the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard, and maintains three shipyards (Fincantieri Marinette Marine, Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding and Fincantieri ACE Marine) all located on the Great Lakes within an hour from Green Bay. With nearly 3,000 employees, Fincantieri is one of the largest employers in Northeast Wisconsin.
FMG’s parent company, Fincantieri, is one of the world’s largest and most diverse shipbuilding groups. It is a leader in the construction and transformation of cruise, naval and oil & gas and wind offshore vessels, as well as in the production of systems and component equipment, after-sales services and marine interior solutions.
For more information:
Eric Dent
Director of Communications
Fincantieri Marine Group
(202) 488-4783
Eric.dent@us.fincantieri.com
WASHINGTON D.C. – June 16, 2022 – The U.S. Navy announced today that Fincantieri Marinette Marine is on contract to build a third Constellation-class Frigate, the future USS Chesapeake.
This announcement follows last month’s successful critical design review of the first-in-class FFG-62, which is nearing the start of construction. The value of this contract option is approximately $536 million.
“We are pleased with the award, and our focus remains on working with the Navy to build the best frigate in the world,” said Fincantieri Marine Group President and CEO Dario Deste.
Fincantieri Marinette Marine received the initial frigate contract in April 2020 for the lead ship and nine additional options. Last year the Navy exercised the first option, giving FMM the opportunity to build the second ship, FFG-63, the future USS Congress. The initial FFG contract was valued at $5.5 billion, if all options are exercised.
Fincantieri is nearly complete with its $300 million construction and renovation project aimed at enabling construction of two frigates each year. Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers was in Marinette last month for the dedication of one of the newest buildings in the shipyard, the massive ‘Building 34’, where two 500-ft. ships can be erected and finished side-by-side in a climate-controlled environment.
FMM was also recognized recently by the Shipbuilders Council of America for its efforts to build ships safely. FMM garnered both the “Excellence in Safety” and “Improvement in Safety” awards, while another Fincantieri shipyard, Bay Shipbuilding, also received accolades from SCA for continued improvement on an already impressive safety record.
All of the Fincantieri shipyards in Wisconsin are hiring, and the company unveiled a new paid apprenticeship program last week. For more information on available jobs and apprenticeships, please visit www.fincantierimarinegroup.com/careers.
Fincantieri, one of the world’s largest and most diverse shipbuilders, employs more than 20,000 shipbuilding professionals in 18 shipyards on four continents. Fincantieri has a rich history dating back more than 234 years and has built more than 7,000 ships. Fincantieri operates in the United States through its subsidiary Fincantieri Marine Group (FMG). This company, which serves commercial and government customers, including the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard, has three shipyards (Fincantieri Marinette Marine, Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding and Fincantieri ACE Marine) located in Wisconsin on the Great Lakes.
For more information:
Eric Dent
Director of Communications
Fincantieri Marine Group
(202) 488-4783
Eric.dent@us.fincantieri.com
GREEN BAY -- Fincantieri Marine Group began accepting applications for a new paid Industrial Shipbuilding Apprenticeship program this week.
This program, which was approved by Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development, is designed to increase the quality and quantity of skilled technicians trained and equipped to succeed in the maritime sector of the manufacturing industry.
Fincantieri will select its first group of apprentices in July, and then will open up additional apprenticeship positions in the coming months. Interested men and women can apply through the company’s website: fincantierimarinegroup.com/careers.
“We provide paid training and education which leads to industry-recognized credentials and college-level credits,” said Peggy Boudreau, head of Human Relations at Fincantieri Marine Group. “The beauty of our paid apprenticeship program is that it encompasses nearly every facet of manufacturing, including safe operation of machinery, reading blueprints, understanding processes, conducting measurement and inspections, as well as a deeper understanding of Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards.”
Fincantieri operates three busy shipyards in northeast Wisconsin, where they custom-build an array of maritime vessels, including agile warships for the Navy and large commercial vessels for use on the Great Lakes and beyond. The marine industry's continued growth has raised the demand for competent technicians, and Fincantieri has achieved significant progress in attracting and retaining brilliant men and women with stable career possibilities for the next 10 years through paid education, training, and mentorship.
The shipbuilding apprenticeship program is open to adult U.S. citizens regardless of manufacturing experience. Those who have already participated in other registered Wisconsin apprenticeships are not eligible for this program, however Fincantieri has hundreds of open jobs at its Wisconsin locations that provide interesting employment options for nearly everyone.
Those interested in learning more about the program and to apply, please visit: www.fincantierimarinegroup.com/careers.
Fincantieri, one of the world’s largest and most diversified maritime companies, employs more than 20,000 shipbuilding professionals in 18 shipyards on four continents. Fincantieri operates in the United States through its subsidiary Fincantieri Marine Group. This company, which serves commercial and government customers, including the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard, has three shipyards (Fincantieri Marinette Marine, Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding and Fincantieri ACE Marine) located in Wisconsin on the Great Lakes.
For more information:
Eric Dent
Director of Communications
Fincantieri Marine Group
(202) 488-4783
Eric.dent@us.fincantieri.com
MARINETTE, WISCONSIN - Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro met with shipbuilders and toured the recently revamped shipyard, where Fincantieri Marinette Marine builds ships for the U.S. Navy.
At the sprawling Marinette shipyard, workers are finishing serial production of the Freedom-class Littoral Combat Ships and are about to begin construction of the Navy’s newest class of ships: Constellation-class Frigates. The frigates will be larger and more capable than the LCSs which are produced in partnership with Lockheed Martin.
The visit by the Navy secretary lends support to one of his core principles – “to strengthen strategic partnerships and relationships, including those with industry.” Those who met with him mentioned his appreciation for the complex shipbuilding environment and its connection to our national security.
“We offered updates on the [Constellation-class] Frigate program and then showed the Secretary the scope of our recent $300 million investments in our system-of-shipyards,” said Dario Deste, CEO of Fincantieri Marine Group. “Sec. Del Toro mentioned several times the importance the Frigate program is for the Navy and the nation, and that is not lost on our team. Our men and women know that their work is directly linked to the Navy’s ability to project power abroad.”
The Fincantieri team continues its progress on detail design of the first Constellation-class Frigate, with the next milestone expected to happen in the coming months. Six months after that, FMM will begin construction on the second Constellation-class Frigate. FMM has options for eight additional frigates.
Fincantieri Marine Group: Fincantieri operates in the United States through its subsidiary Fincantieri Marine Group (FMG). This company, which serves commercial and government customers in the US, including the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard, has three shipyards (Fincantieri Marinette Marine, Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding and Fincantieri ACE Marine) located in the Great Lakes.
For more information:
Eric Dent
Director of Communications
Fincantieri Marine Group
(202) 488-4783
Eric.dent@us.fincantieri.com
MARINETTE, WISCONSIN – Leaders from Fincantieri Marinette Marine, the U.S. Navy, and Wisconsin-based Miron Construction dedicated a new facility at the Marinette shipyard with a small ceremony Mar. 8, 2022.
Employees and guests gathered to open the newest building at the Marinette shipyard, Building 35, where giant plates of raw steel begin the journey to become a U.S. warship. The 32,000 sq. ft. building is connected to a new panel line where steel is prepared, marked, cut, and welded on an automated assembly line complete with state-of-the-art robotic welders. This is where the Constellation-class Frigate’s large steel plates with be cut and welded.
Fincantieri received a contract in 2020 that could be worth $5.5 billion to design and build the Navy’s newest class of ships, the Constellation-class Frigate. FMM is scheduled to begin construction on the first frigate this year, so this new facility will be increasingly busy as employees continue training ahead of frigate construction. This building and the panel line are part of the $300 million Fincantieri has recently invested into its shipyards.
“It is important to remember that all of our construction and improvement projects are connected to a singular purpose: to be an efficient, modern shipyard that builds world-class frigates for the U.S. Navy.” said Dario Deste, President and CEO of Fincantieri Marine Group. “We continue to affirm our commitment to the Navy.”
The new facility and panel line offer vast improvements in overall steel preparation, manufacturing, and staging processes that will be needed in construction of Constellation-class Frigates. Fincantieri plans to build two ships per year after the ship design is stabilized. Fincantieri is scheduled to deliver the lead ship in 2026 and the second vessel in 2027.
In addition to these ships, the Navy’s contract with FMM has options for eight additional frigates which would be built in Wisconsin using Fincantieri’s system-of-shipyards, which includes Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding in Sturgeon Bay, as well as Fincantieri ACE Marine in Green Bay.
Fincantieri, one of the world’s largest shipbuilders, employing 19,000 shipbuilding professionals in 18 shipyards on four continents. Fincantieri has a rich history dating back more than 234 years and has built more than 7,000 ships. Fincantieri operates in the United States through its subsidiary Fincantieri Marine Group (FMG). This company, which serves commercial and government customers, including the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard, has three shipyards (Fincantieri Marinette Marine, Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding and Fincantieri ACE Marine) located in Wisconsin on the Great Lakes.
For more information:
Eric Dent
Director of Communications
Fincantieri Marine Group
(202) 488-4783
Eric.dent@us.fincantieri.com
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