MONFALCONE – More automation in low value-added activities, more skilled employment and a greater ability to attract Italian workers. This is the vision outlined by Fincantieri chief executive officer Pierroberto Folgiero during the delivery ceremony for the cruise ship Mein Schiff Flow at the Monfalcone shipyard.
Speaking from the theatre of the ship just delivered to TUI Cruises, Folgiero indicated two directions for the future of Italian shipbuilding: continuing to seek Italian workers and accelerating technological innovation in production processes. The objective is to build an industrial model in which lower-skilled activities are increasingly automated, allowing the workforce to focus on high value-added skills.
The manager also addressed the issue of the shipyard’s impact on the Monfalcone area, where thousands of direct and supply-chain workers are employed. Fincantieri, he explained, represents a major economic opportunity but also entails responsibilities that require constant collaboration with local and national institutions. According to Folgiero, the supply chain generated by the group is worth around €60 billion over ten years and must be accompanied by policies capable of managing its social and employment effects.
In his speech, the chief executive also referred to the role of public support for exports, describing it as a fundamental element for the group’s international competitiveness. In addition to the quality of the ships and production efficiency, he observed, the ability to compete on global markets also depends on the financial instruments made available by the country system. Folgiero then underlined the strategic value of shipbuilding in an increasingly complex geopolitical scenario. Citing recent initiatives by the United States in support of shipbuilding, he recalled how military naval construction is closely linked to the presence of a solid civilian industry. Even a cruise ship, he stressed, therefore takes on a significance that goes beyond tourism.
The focus of the day was nevertheless Mein Schiff Flow, the second unit of the new InTUItion class built by Fincantieri for TUI Cruises. The ship has a gross tonnage of around 160,000 tonnes and can accommodate around 4,000 passengers. It is powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG) and is ready for the use of bio-LNG and e-LNG, as well as being equipped with advanced systems for emission reduction, energy recovery and waste treatment.
The delivery confirms the solidity of the relationship between Fincantieri and TUI Cruises. Last year the two companies signed a new contract for the construction of another two sister ships, to be delivered in 2031 and 2032. The Monfalcone yard, the largest in the Fincantieri group, has built more than 45 cruise ships and employs around 6,500 people every day, including direct employees and supply-chain workers, confirming its position as one of the world’s main hubs for passenger shipbuilding.
