Fincantieri Modernizes Wisconsin Yards With Investment by US Navy and MARAD

By The Maritime Executive 2026-10-14 19:09:17

The U.S.-based division of Fincantieri reports it is moving forward with  $10 million in new U.S. Navy and U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) funding. The investment is for advanced manufacturing and workforce investments across its Wisconsin shipyards. 

The investment consists of approximately $8.3 million in Navy Shipbuilding Capability Industrial Base (SCIB) funding and a $1.3 million MARAD Small Shipyard Grant. The company says it is part of its long-standing investments in its U.S. shipyards to expand and modernize American shipbuilding. Since establishing its presence in the United States two decades ago, Fincantieri reports it has invested more than $800 million in its U.S. shipyards, which include three Wisconsin shipyards and a repair and sustainment facility in Jacksonville, Florida.

“This investment is an important demonstration of the Navy’s confidence in Fincantieri, our people and our ability to be a partner in strengthening American shipbuilding,” said George Moutafis,  CEO of Fincantieri Marine Group. “It also complements our efforts to put proven advanced manufacturing technologies into the hands of our employees so that we can deliver at speed. Together, these investments are helping create the industrial capabilities, skilled workforce and modern infrastructure needed to support the Navy’s future fleet requirements.” 

The company said the investments will accelerate ongoing modernization of Fincantieri’s Wisconsin System of Shipyards, adding advanced cutting, forming, welding, and automation capabilities that will improve production efficiency and strengthen the shipyards’ ability to execute the Landing Ship Medium (LSM) program and other current and future shipbuilding requirements. 

The Navy agreement also enables Fincantieri to continue to offer its Employee Dependent Care Contribution Program through 2027. The annual tax-free $5,000 payment has helped employees offset childcare and elder care costs. 

In addition to the federal funding, Wisconsin's governor Tony Evers recently announced state support, which will include $232,788 to train Fincantieri workers to operate and program advanced robotic welding systems.

Previous Navy SCIB funding supported the development of a new Weld Lab at Fincantieri  Marinette Marine, currently underway, that will bring more welding training, qualification, and recertification in-house and help accelerate skills development for the shipyard workforce. The facility will also provide a model for expanding in-house skilled-trade development across FMG’s  Wisconsin shipyards, building on its existing training partnerships and programs, to expand its reach and accelerate the development of the company’s workforce.