Italy: Fincantieri Delivers Two Warships After Mid-Life Refitting

Today at Muggiano (La Spezia) shipyard there was the delivery of the “Nyayo” and “Umoja”, two vessels assigned by the Kenyan Navy to Fincantieri for mid-life refitting.

The order, which Fincantieri gained in 2008 bidding against important competitors from the UK, Holland and South Africa, is indicative of the company’s interest in the African market which has seen a significant increase in demand for new vessels for Navies and Coast Guards in response to the need to guarantee a greater control of territorial waters and to effectively combat terrorist attacks on maritime traffic, piracy and illegal fishing activities.

Classified as “fast attack craft” the “Nyayo” e “Umoja” were built at the British shipyards Vosper Thornycroft and delivered in 1988. The work carried out on both vessels by Fincantieri regarded the reconstruction of the hull (replacement of approximately a third of the structure on each ship), the propulsion (maintenance of the engines, reduction gears and shaft lines), work on the propellers, the electrical and automation plant, and complete replacement of all the command and control equipment, repairs to the conditioning plant and replacement of much of the piping, full reconditioning and partial replacement of the furnishings, insulation and flooring in addition to maintenance work on all auxiliary plant and the installation of new equipment.

The “Nyayo” and “Umoja” are 56.7 metres long, with a displacement of approximately 450 tonnes each and can reach a maximum speed of almost 40 knots and accommodate a crew of approximately 45. They are currently the only two ships in service in the Kenyan Navy and will carry out coastal patrols and activities to combat smuggling and piracy.

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Source: fincantieri, June 30, 2011