Ferretti Security & Defence
Ferretti Security and Defence, or FSD for short, is a new business division of the Italian Ferretti Group which plans to offer a series of patrol boats for surveillance and patrol duties.
The Ferretti Group is one of the largest Italian leisure boat builders and the range of patrol boats will be largely based on their leisure boat hulls with particular emphasis of hulls from the Pershing performance range. The initial offerings are all based on composite hulls but FSD plan to offer both planing and displacement hulls with construction in composites, steel or aluminium in the future. They will be aimed at clients who operate in the search & rescue, patrol, surveillance, anti-crime and anti-terrorism sectors.
Ferretti claims that the production capacity at its six boatyards in Italy and its far-reaching global service network can cater to any demands in terms of production volumes or certified warranties, and offers an after-sales service that is highly professional and readily available.
“It is my pleasure to welcome the advent of an Italian company like the Ferretti Group into the security and defence sector, which is vitally important for our country”, commented the Italian Minister of the Interior, Hon. Angelino Alfano, in the speech he gave at the launch of the new division in Rome.
The first fast patrol vessel being built by Ferretti Security and Defence, called the FSD195, is a high performance, 20m vessel capable of reaching speeds in excess of 50 knots and with a range of over 400 miles This patrol boat has RINA FPV and CE approvals, and its launch is scheduled for the coming summer.
In addition to this first launch vessel, the initial range on offer by FSD will include four fast patrol designs. The smallest is the FSG 115 which is 11.5 metres long and powered by triple Mercruiser MAG 8.2 petrol engines each of 430 hp and driving through Mercruiser stern drive legs to give a speed of 45 knots.
Next in the range comes the FSD 150 BWO which is diesel powered with a pair of MAN 1200 hp engines to give this 15 metre design a top speed of over 40 knots. The 25 metre FSD 25 will be powered by a pair of MTU 16V 2000 Series diesels each producing 2638 hp which again will offer speeds in excess of 40 knots.
The flagship of the range is the FSD 350 which uses the MTU 16V 4000 Series diesels of 3700 hp each but an alternative version with a CODAG installation and water jet propulsion will offer speeds over 50 knots.
With the Ferretti Group resources behind this new venture this entry into this sector could have a considerable influence on the market which in Italy has previously tended to be dominated by smaller specialised builders. Ferretti will be leveraging its long experience in the leisure sector to bring ready-made solutions to the patrol and military markets.
By Dag Pike
