VARD, the Norwegian subsidiary of Fincantieri Group and a global leader in specialized shipbuilding, has delivered two of the world’s first vessels equipped with full cyber resilience: the Grampian Kestrel and Purus Chinook. Built for North Star and Purus respectively, these Commissioning Service Operation Vessels (CSOVs) set new standards for cybersecurity at sea.
In compliance with new international regulations that came into force on July 1, 2024, the vessels feature advanced systems enabling them to withstand cyberattacks, operate under threat conditions, and rapidly restore full functionality. The CSOVs meet all cybersecurity requirements and class notations, embedding resilience throughout the entire shipbuilding process — from design to delivery.
The notations are aligned with UR E26 and E27 standards set by the International Association of Class Societies (IACS). Notably, both ships were contracted in 2023, ahead of regulatory enforcement — a testament to the foresight and proactive approach of VARD, Purus, and North Star in advancing cyber-secure shipping.
VARD’s innovation extends well beyond cybersecurity. The group was recently honored with the prestigious Ship of the Year 2025 award by Skipsrevyen, Norway’s leading maritime publication, for its cable-laying vessel Prysmian Monna Lisa. Built at VARD’s Tulcea shipyard in Romania, the vessel is a new benchmark in its class — capable of operating at depths beyond 3,000 meters and offering one of the industry’s highest cable loads, with two carousels of 7,000 and 10,000 tons.
Equipped with an enhanced energy storage system — twice the capacity of its sister ship Leonardo da Vinci — and a high-voltage shore connection enabling zero CO₂ emissions in port, Monna Lisa is designed for operational versatility across shallow and deep-water offshore projects. It also integrates advanced ROV (Remotely Operated Vehicle) capabilities for cable burial.
The Ship of the Year award was presented at Nor-Shipping, Norway’s premier maritime business event, where excellence and innovation in shipbuilding have been recognized annually since 1997.
Meanwhile, Fincantieri Group, one of the world’s largest shipbuilders with over 230 years of history, reported exceptional Q1 2025 financial results:
- Revenues surged to €2.376 billion (+35% YoY).
- EBITDA rose to €154 million (+53%), with margins improving to 6.5%.
- The group achieved its best-ever quarterly order intake of €11.7 billion — a remarkable jump from €0.5 billion in Q1 2024 — and now holds a record €57.6 billion total backlog.
- Four ships were delivered in Q1 2025, with 102 units scheduled through 2036.
These milestones underscore Fincantieri’s continued drive for excellence, innovation, and leadership in an evolving maritime landscape.
Fincantieri at a Glance
Year founded: 1959 (current group structure; shipbuilding legacy dates back over 230 years) Headquarters: Trieste, Italy Employees: ~21,000 worldwide Shipyards: 18 shipyards across 4 continents (Europe, Americas, Asia, Africa) Operations: Shipbuilding, naval vessels, cruise ships, offshore & specialized vessels, submarines, megayachts, repairs, conversions Annual Revenue (2024): Approx. €8.5 billion Stock Listing: Borsa Italiana (BIT: FCT Ownership: Majority owned by CDP Industria S.p.A. (subsidiary of Cassa Depositi e Prestiti, Italian state investment arm)
