Fincantieri Launches 6th Multipurpose Offshore Patrol Ship for Italian Navy

Fincantieri today launched the sixth Multipurpose Offshore Patrol ship (PPA), named the “Ruggiero di Lauria,” for the Italian Navy at its shipyard in Muggiano.

This vessel is part of the renewal plan for the operational fleet of Italian Navy vessels, which was approved by the Government and Parliament and commenced in May 2015 (known as the “Naval Act”) under the aegis of OCCAR (Organisation Conjointe de Cooperation sur l’Armement, the international organization for arms cooperation).

The multipurpose offshore patrol vessel is capable of serving a wide range of functions, from patrol and sea rescue to Civil Protection and combat operations. It offers varying combat system configurations, from a patrol-focused "soft" version with integrated self-defense capabilities to a fully equipped "full" version for comprehensive defense operations. Moreover, the vessel can efficiently operate high-speed vessels like RHIBs up to 11 meters long using lateral cranes or a stern-based hauling ramp.

With an overall length of 143 meters, it combines speed, exceeding 31 knots depending on specific configurations and conditions, with a crew capacity of 171 personnel to execute its missions. It is powered by a combined diesel and gas turbine plant (CODAG) alongside an electric propulsion system. Additionally, it can supply drinking water to land.

The Multipurpose Offshore Patrol ships are constructed at the Integrated Shipyard of Riva Trigoso and Muggiano, with deliveries expected to continue until 2026.