Fincantieri Launches 4th Al Zubarah-class Corvette Sumaysimah for Qatari Emiri Navy

The launching of the corvette “Sumaysimah”, the fourth of the Al Zubarah-class of four vessels ordered to Fincantieri by the Qatari Ministry of Defence within the national naval acquisition program, took place today at the Muggiano (La Spezia) shipyard. The ceremony was attended by H.E. Khalid bin Yousef Al-Sada, Ambassador of The State of Qatar to Italy, Brigadier Rashid Al Qashouti, Chief of Staff Representative of Qatar Armed Forces, Brigadier Ali Ameen, Chief of Qatar Navy Representative, Major General Staff Hilal Al Muhannadi, Defence Attaché of the State of Qatar in Rome, Rear Admiral Riccardo Marchiò, Italian Navy MCM Force Commander, and by Marco Acca, Deputy General Manager Naval Vessel Division of Fincantieri.

Sumaysima ‘s first steel was cut on 18 September 2018 and laid down on 13 February 2021 at the Fincantieri shipyard in Muggiano, Italy. The Al Zubarah-class or Doha-class is a class of corvettes built by Fincantieri for the Qatari Emiri Navy. Fincantieri showcased for the first time the multi-role air defense corvettes for the Qatari Emiri Navy during DIMDEX 2018. In August 2017, Qatar officially announced the order of the four ships of the class after signing the contract in June 2016. They can operate high-speed boats such as rigid-hulled inflatable boats with the help of lateral cranes and hauling ramps. All four of the Doha class will serve as the backbone of the Qatari Emiri Navy.

The Al Zubarah-class corvettes, designed consistent with the RINAMIL rules, will be highly flexible and capable of fulfilling different kinds of tasks, from surveillance with sea rescue capacities to being fighting vessels. They will be about 107 meters long, 14.70 meters wide, and equipped with a combined diesel and diesel plant (CODAD), with a maximum speed of 28 knots. The units will be able to accommodate 112 persons on board. Furthermore, the corvettes will be capable of operating high-speed boats such as RHIB (Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat) through lateral cranes or a hauling ramp located at the far stern. The flight deck and hangar are sized for hosting one NH90 helicopter.

Fincantieri S.p.A. is an Italian shipbuilding company based in Trieste, Italy. Already the largest shipbuilder in Europe, after the acquisition of Vard in 2013, the Fincantieri group doubled in size to become the fourth largest in the world (2014). The company builds both commercial and military vessels. The company is listed on the Borsa Italiana (Milan Stock Exchange) and is a component of the FTSE Italia Mid Cap Index. Fincantieri designs and builds merchant vessels, passenger ships, offshore, and naval vessels, and is also active in the conversion and ship repair sectors. Already the largest shipbuilder in Europe, after the acquisition of Vard, formerly part of STX Europe, the Fincantieri group doubled in size to become the fourth largest in the world.