Shipbuilder Fincantieri has just launched Ugolino Vivaldi, the first of the Italian Navy’s next-generation offshore patrol vessels (OPVs).
Ugolino Vivaldi is the first of four new OPVs being built for the Marina Militare Italiana at the firm’s Riva Trigoso shipyard. The vessels are being produced under a programme managed by Orizzonte Sistemi Navali, a joint venture between Fincantieri and Leonardo.
The 95-metre ship, which displaces about 2,400 tons, will have a maximum speed in excess of 24 knots and a range of up to 3,500 nautical miles. It is a lean-crewed platform, with high levels of automation described by the shipbuilder as a “generational leap.”
The firm’s press statement noted: “Among the most notable innovations is the integrated naval cockpit, developed for the Multi Purpose Combat Ships (PPA) of the Italian Navy…
“This station allows the control of engines, rudders, and platform systems, as well as some combat system functions, by just two operators — the pilot and co-pilot — optimizing efficiency and safety.”
The OPVs’ envisioned mission roles include maritime patrol, surveillance, and counter-marine pollution duties.
- You can read more details on the Fincantieri website