Fincantieri is advancing the integration of robotics, artificial intelligence (AI), and automation within its global shipyard network, shifting from technology trials to widespread implementation through its BOOST² initiative, aimed at creating “The Shipyard of the Future.” Launched three years ago, BOOST² has involved over 450 employees across 13 shipyards in Italy, Romania, and the United States, focusing on enhancing productivity, workplace safety, and manufacturing quality through specialized technologies for complex shipbuilding.
At the Castellammare di Stabia shipyard, Fincantieri showcased both established technologies in operation and new systems currently being validated. A key component of BOOST² is Physical AI, which allows intelligent machines to interact with their environments, complemented by collaborative robotics that assist workers with intricate manufacturing tasks. Other technologies in use include digital twins for asset management, smart supply chains, additive manufacturing, and automated industrial equipment.
After an initial phase of scouting and testing technologies, Fincantieri is now concentrating on the industrialization and wider application of successful innovations across its shipbuilding operations. The company is also utilizing its Open Innovation program to partner with technology firms, SMEs, and startups to create applications tailored to shipbuilding.
This initiative underscores the industry’s commitment to improving shipbuilding productivity, addressing workforce needs, and enhancing manufacturing efficiency through automation, while ensuring that skilled workers remain integral to increasingly tech-driven production processes.
