The Shipbuilders Council of America has recognised FINCANTIERI'S U.S. shipyards.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed by the Italian shipbuilding giant and Teijin Automotive Technologies, the European subsidiary of Teijin Ltd., a Japanese group and global leader in advanced composite materials solutions. The collaboration aims to engineer non-structural composite bulkheads for naval applications.

Teijin Automotive Technologies will lead the engineering and industrialisation activities, supported by Fincantieri. This initiative will introduce innovative composite material solutions to the naval sector, focusing on weight reduction and functional integration in response to stringent operational and safety requirements for naval vessels.

Innovative composite material

Aeronautical Service's innovative composite material, which has successfully obtained "non-combustible" certification (a fundamental requirement for use on ships), will be used to make the bulkheads. Fincantieri already collaborates with Aeronautical Service — an Italian SME specialising in advanced aerospace solutions — to promote the large-scale adoption of carbon-based composites and cutting-edge technologies in civil and military shipbuilding.

The evolution of shipbuilding towards the best available technologies 

The CEO and General Manager of Fincantieri, Pierroberto Folgiero, provided the following comment: "This agreement is a testament to our pioneering spirit, driving the evolution of shipbuilding towards the best available technologies and high-performance solutions that go beyond the use of steel. By promoting the use of next-generation materials, we are enabling the development of lighter, more efficient vessels and opening up new design possibilities that were previously unattainable, particularly in the military sector. 

The creation of new prospects

This creates new prospects for the sector where innovation and operational excellence converge to define the future of maritime capabilities. Our collaboration with a leading partner such as Teijin Automotive Technologies enables us to accelerate this transformation and generate concrete value for our customers and the entire ecosystem.'

Related : Fincantieri launches the next-generation offshore patrol vessel, Ugolino Vivaldi.

Improve safety and sustainability

Uwe Brinkmann, General Manager of Teijin Automotive Technologies Europe, said: "We are delighted to be working together with Fincantieri to bring advanced composite materials into the future of shipbuilding. Our joint goal is to improve safety and sustainability while encouraging innovation in the maritime sector."

 Fincantieri's industrial strategy to expand

The partnership marks a further step in Fincantieri's industrial strategy to expand its technological capabilities beyond traditional steel applications, thereby diversifying its product range and strengthening its market position. The Group is aiming to strengthen its role as a driver of innovation in high-tech maritime sectors by accelerating the integration of advanced materials. Introducing composite solutions to the naval sector is a significant technological leap, combining cutting-edge materials engineering with greater safety and sustainability in key strategic maritime programmes.

Conversely, Fincantieri has reaffirmed its position as a leader in advanced shipbuilding and maritime innovation by announcing that three of its US shipyards — Fincantieri ACE Marine (Green Bay, Wisconsin), Fincantieri Marine Repair (Jacksonville, Florida) and Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding (Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin) — have received national safety awards from the Shipbuilders Council of America (SCA) for 2025.

These awards recognise the Group's structured and continuous approach to safety, which is considered a core pillar of its industrial culture and a key enabler of operational excellence in the US.

The recognitions also reflect Fincantieri's broader commitment to continuously strengthening its safety culture. The company plans to do this through innovation, workforce engagement, and increasingly proactive prevention models. These models will be used across the Group's industrial operations. This approach supports the progressive evolution of safety management from a reactive to a more predictive model by leveraging continuous improvement, data analysis and advanced technologies to reinforce prevention in all areas.

About : The Shipbuilders Council of America 

The Shipbuilders Council of America is the national trade association representing the U.S. shipbuilding, maintenance, and repair industry. Its annual safety awards programme is based on rigorous criteria, including TRIR performance, and highlights the importance of protecting the workforce and maintaining operational discipline as key principles of the entire industrial sector.

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