Fincantieri Launches Fourth Multipurpose Offshore Patrol Ship for Italian Navy

The technical launch of the fourth Multipurpose Offshore Patrol ship (PPA – Pattugliatore Polivalente d’Altura) “Giovanni delle Bande Nere” built for the Italian Navy took place at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Riva Trigoso (Genoa) recently.

This PPA, to be delivered in 2024, is the first in “full” version, which means equipped for a complete defence ability, and the first to be supplied with generator sets by Isotta Fraschini Motori, a Fincantieri subsidiary specialized in the production of diesel engines.

The vessel is part of the renewal plan of the operational lines of the Italian Navy vessels, approved by the Government and Parliament and started in May 2015 (“Naval Act”) under the aegis of OCCAR (Organisation Conjointe de Cooperation sur l’Armement, the international organization for cooperation on arms).

The multipurpose offshore patrol vessel has the capacity to serve multiple functions, ranging from patrol with sea rescue capacity to Civil Protection operations and, in its most highly equipped version, first line fighting vessel. For the seven vessels of the program there will be indeed different configurations of combat system: starting from a “soft” version for the patrol task, integrated for self-defence ability, to a “full” one, as described above. The patrol ship is also capable of operating high-speed vessels such as RHIB (Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat) up to 11 meters long through lateral cranes or a hauling ramp located at the far stern.

The vessel is 133 meters long and can reach speed more than 31 knots according to vessel configuration and operational conditions. It can accommodate145 crew members and up to 181 beds. It ship has a combined diesel and gas turbine propulsion system, ie with electric motors for low speeds. It has the capacity to supply drinking water to land.

The PPAs will be built at the Integrated Shipyard of Riva Trigoso and Muggiano, with deliveries expected until 2026.