Fincantieri Unveils Qatar’s Cutting-Edge Amphibious Craft: The Al Fulk Adventure Begins
In the presence of Qatar’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Affairs, H.E. Dr. Khalid bin Mohamed Al Attiyah, alongside Italian Defense Minister, Guido Crosetto, the inauguration ceremony of “Al Fulk”, the amphibious vessel (LPD – Landing Platform Dock) commissioned to Fincantieri by the Qatari Ministry of Defence as part of the national naval acquisition initiative, transpired at the Palermo shipyard in Italy.
The event was graced by several dignitaries, including Staff Major General (Sea) Abdullah Hassan AlSulaiti, Commander of Qatar Emiri Naval Forces, Admiral Enrico Credendino, Chief of Staff of the Italian Navy, Lieutenant General Luciano Portolano, Secretary-General of Defence and Director of National Armaments, H.E. Khalid bin Yousef Al-Sada, the Ambassador of the State of Qatar to Italy, Paolo Toschi, the Ambassador of Italy to Qatar, Renato Schifani, President of Sicily, and Roberto Lagalla, Mayor of Palermo, who was received by Pierroberto Folgiero, CEO of Fincantieri.
The LPD, entirely constructed by Italian shipyards, is designed in accordance with RINAMIL (rules for naval ship classification) guidelines to guarantee highly efficient land-air-naval interactions. It is expected to be versatile and capable of executing a multitude of tasks, ranging from humanitarian assistance to support for the Armed Forces and land operations.
This vessel measures approximately 143 meters in length and 21.5 meters in width, with a capacity to house around 550 individuals onboard. It is outfitted with two vehicle ramps and an internal floodable dock, suitable for accommodating a ready-to-launch LCM (Landing Craft Mechanized) that can be stored on the garage deck and deployed through a system of davits. Moreover, the flight deck is appropriately sized to accommodate NH90 helicopters.
Fincantieri stands as one of the globe’s foremost shipbuilding conglomerates, the sole entity engaged across all high-tech marine industry sectors. It specializes in the construction and transformation of cruise ships, naval vessels, and oil & gas and wind energy offshore crafts, as well as the production of systems and component equipment, after-sales services, and marine interior solutions. With a vast experience gained from managing complex undertakings, the Group proudly holds exceptional references in infrastructure projects and is a key player in digital technologies, cybersecurity, electronics, and advanced systems.
With a legacy spanning over 230 years and having constructed more than 7,000 vessels, Fincantieri retains its expertise and management hubs in Italy, employing 10,000 individuals and contributing to around 90,000 jobs, which multiply globally due to a production network of 18 shipyards spread across four continents, employing over 21,000 workers.
