At the presence of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State of Qatar for Defence Affairs H.E. Dr. Khalid bin Mohamed Al Attiyah and Italian Minister of Defense, Hon. Lorenzo Guerini, the delivery of the second OPV (Offshore Patrol Vessels) “Sheraouh”, ordered to Fincantieri by the Qatari Ministry of Defence within the national naval acquisition program, took place at the Muggiano (La Spezia) shipyard. The program is worth nearly 4 billion euros and envisages, other than 2 OPVs, 4 Corvettes over 100 meters long and 1 LPD (Landing Platform Dock). Attending the event were, among others, Staff Major General Abdulla Bin Hassan Al Sulaiti, Commander of the Qatar Emiri Naval Forces, Vice Admiral Enrico Credendino, Chief of the Italian Navy, H.E. Khalid bin Yousef Al-Sada, Ambassador to the State of Qatar in Italy, H.E. Alessandro Prunas, Ambassador of Italy to Qatar and, for Fincantieri, the Chairman, Gen. Claudio Graziano, and the CEO and General manager Pierroberto Folgiero.
Like its sister-ship “Musherib”, delivered in January 2022, the OPV “Sheraouh”, has been designed in compliance with the RINAMIL for Fast Patrol Vessel (FPV) rules and is a flexible type of ship capable of performing several services, from surveillance to combat functions. It is about 63 meters long, 9.2 meters wide, with a maximum speed of 30 knots and it accommodates as many as 38 of crew members. Fincantieri showcased the Musherib-class offshore patrol vessels for the Qatari Emiri Navy during DIMDEX 2018. In August 2017, Qatar officially announced for the order of the two ships of the class after signing the contract in June 2016. She started sea trials on 2 April 2021. They are able to operate high speed boats such as rigid-hulled inflatable boats with the help of lateral cranes and hauling ramps.
