Indian Coast Guard, Italian Shipbuilder Fincantieri Explore Collaboration on Next-Gen Naval Tech

New Delhi: The Indian Coast Guard hosted a senior Italian delegation, including top executives from shipbuilder Fincantieri, at Coast Guard Headquarters in New Delhi on Wednesday to discuss cooperation in shipbuilding and maritime technology.

The delegation was led by Counselor Anna Ruffino, Head of the Economics and Innovation Department at the Embassy of Italy, and Eugenio Santagata, Head of the Military Naval Vessel Division at Fincantieri. They called on Director General Paramesh Sivamani, AVSM, PTM, TM.

The discussions, chaired by Inspector General Sudhir Sahni, TM, DDG (M&M), focused on aligning future projects with India’s maritime security priorities. Key areas included collaboration with Indian shipyards on vessels featuring resilient hulls for higher sea states, enhanced bollard pull, integrated firefighting systems, and hybrid/electric propulsion.

Both sides also explored modular ship design for multi-role platforms with rapid operational adaptability. Talks covered indigenous and co-development of niche technologies, including Dynamic Positioning systems, advanced thrusters, AI-enabled decision support, counter-UAS/anti-drone defence, and next-generation green propulsion.

The dialogue aligns with India’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative. Officials from both sides reaffirmed their commitment to deepen industrial partnerships and strengthen maritime cooperation, agreeing to continue structured engagement going forward.