Fincantieri Marine Group Announces Industry Partners For Army

Fincantieri Marine Group (FMG), has announced that it will act as prime in leading a world-class industry team in pursuit of the U.S. Army TACOM Life Cycle Management Command (LCMC) contract for the Army Maneuver Support Vessel (Light)—MSV(L).  The formal announcement was made at the 2015 International WorkBoat Show’s Army Watercraft Systems Industry Day on December 1st.  WorkBoat is North America’s largest annual marine industry tradeshow and exposition.

The Army MSV(L) is a replacement for the Landing Craft Mechanized (LCM-8), which has been in service since 1959.  The ACATIII Program is the Army’s #2 priority program in its Transportation portfolio, and is the first of three major watercraft fleet recapitalization programs over the next 15 to 20 years.  Thirty-seven MSV(L) watercraft are expected to be funded in fiscal years 2016 through 2025.  The U.S. Army RFP is anticipated by first quarter 2016 with an award expected by year-end.

Key members of the Fincantieri Marine Group-led industry team include French company Constructions industrielles de la Méditerranée (CNIM), Oshkosh Defense, LLC and Watercraft Logistics Services (WLS).  CNIM is the designer and builder of seven operational L-CAT vessels, four of which have been in operation with allied military forces for the past four years.  Oshkosh Defense is a world leader in designing, manufacturing and sustaining Tactical Wheeled Vehicles for the U.S. Army and Marine Corps. WLS is a Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business specializing in logistics and training.

In making the announcement, Francesco Valente, President and CEO of FMG, described the team as “the world’s most experienced defense contractors for Army Watercraft vessels,” and also pointed to the expertise of the group’s U.S. shipyards, which built the LCM-6, LCM-8, and LCU landing craft in Marinette,—delivering 562 landing craft for the Army and Navy over a period of 23-years.  Many of the LCM-8 vessels are still in service today.

“We believe that our world-class team and proven design represents the lowest risk and lowest total life cycle cost to the U.S. Army, and brings significant warfighting capabilities in increased speed, maneuverability, access to austere shallow water beachheads, survivability and endurance to the battlefield,” continued Valente.  “The MSV(L) proven design provides high-reliability and flexibility to support Brigade Combat Teams (BCT) and their operational and tactical maneuver requirements, now and in the future,” he said.