Fincantieri to Upgrade Two Vessels for Kenya Navy

PARIS --- On the occasion of the international exhibition Euronaval - the most important trade fair for the defence industries currently in progress in Paris-Le Bourget Fincantieri has announced that the company has gained an order from the Ministry of the Defence of Kenya to carry out mid-life refitting of two of the Navys vessels, the Nyayo and the Umoja.>> The contract will involve 12 months of work at the companys yard in Muggiano (Spezia).> Fincantieri competed to win the order against competition from other leading industries in the sector (British, Dutch, South African).>> The Nyayo and the Umoja, which are classified as fast attack craft were built at the British shipyards of Vosper Thornycroft and delivered in 1988.>> They are currently the only two vessels in operation for the Kenyan Navy and will be tasked with patrolling the coast and intervening against smuggling and piracy.>> The two 56.7-metre-long vessels have a displacement of 450 tonnes, can reach a maximum speed of 40 knots and accommodate a crew of 40.>> This new order follows the recent upgrading of 4 Lupo class frigates (the Lupo, Orsa, Sagittario and Perseo), built by Fincantieri for the Italian Navy and later ceded to the Peruvian Navy.>> The order confirms Fincantieris strategy to strengthen its presence in the export market, both for new buildings and for refitting and post-sales support to foreign Navies.>> The result marks the companys renewed interest in the African market which is characterised by a substantial increase in demand for new vessels for Navies and Coast Guards, in response to the need to increase patrolling of the territorial waters and to combat acts of terrorism against maritime traffic, in addition to piracy and poaching.