The U.S. Navy has cancelled orders for four Constellation Class frigates that were scheduled to be built at the Fincantieri Marinette Marine shipyard.
Fincantieri will continue to build two ships in the class already under construction in Marinette and the company said in a statement that it had reached an agreement with the Navy regarding discontinuing the contract.
“We are reshaping how the Navy builds its fleet. Today, I can announce the first public action is a strategic shift away from the Constellation-class frigate program,” said Secretary of Navy John Phelan. “The Navy and our industry partners have reached a comprehensive framework that terminates, for the Navy’s convenience, the last four ships of the class, which have not begun construction.”
Fincantieri is expected to receive new orders to deliver classes of vessels in segments that best serve the immediate interests of the nation and the renaissance of U.S. shipbuilding, such as amphibious, icebreaking and other special missions. Fincantieri said it is ready to execute the contracts planned in coordination with the U.S. Navy. On top of the aforementioned award of future orders, in order to cover the above, the agreement indemnifies Fincantieri Marine Group, on existing economic commitments and industrial impacts through measures provided by the U.S. Navy, as a result of the contractual decision made for its own convenience.
Over the past years, Fincantieri has invested more than $800 million in its four U.S. shipyards, including Marinette, Green Bay, Sturgeon Bay, and Jacksonville. Fincantieri Marine Group currently employs approximately 3,750 highly skilled workers in the United States.
