According to information published by Fincantieri on July 7, 2022, 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.
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Qatari Musherib class Offshore Patrol Vessel Sheraouh (Picture source: Italian MoD)
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 crew members.
The propulsion system has four variable pitch propellers, two to the starboard and two to the left, each in line with a diesel propulsion engine. Furthermore, the vessel is capable of operating an RHIB (Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat) through a crane located at the stern.
Last May the keel laying of the LPD took place in Palermo, while in April Fincantieri delivered “Damsah” in Muggiano, the second of 4 corvettes, all within the same program for Qatar.
