Intermarine begins construction of high-speed multipurpose vessels for Italian Navy

[Zarvan]

A model of the Italian Navy's future high-speed multipurpose vessel, on display at the Euronaval exhibition in Paris. The two vessels are now in build. Source: Luca Peruzzi
Key Points

• Intermarine begins build of two high-speed multipurpose vessels
• The vessels are being delivered as one of a number of programmes put in place under the 'Legge Navale' to provide new capabilities for the navy

Italian company Intermarine has begun building two high-speed multipurpose vessels for the Italian Navy, as part of a wider fleet rebuilding programme being delivered under the 'Legge Navale' (or 'naval law').

The vessels will embark special forces units from the navy and other Italian services, as well as deploying naval diving units.

The company revealed the development at the Euronaval exhibition in Paris in late October. Work began soon after the EUR42 million (USD45.8 million) contract, awarded in June 2016, came into effect at the end of September.

The pair of 43 m craft, built of advanced composite materials, will be launched in late 2018 and delivered to the navy in the 2019-20 timeframe. The contract includes a 10-year in-service support package.

The vessels displace 185 tonnes at full load and have a beam of 8.4 m. The propulsion system, based on three MTU 16V200 M91 diesel engines (delivering 2 MW of power) and Rolls-Royce Kamewa waterjets, will generate a maximum speed in excess of 32 kt.

The hull and superstructure are designed to reduce radar, infrared (IR), and acoustic signatures. Ballistic protection is also provided for operating areas on the platform. The stern features a launch-and-recovery ramp for a 5-7.5 m rigid-hull inflatable boat (RHIB).

The vessels carry a crew of nine and can embark up to 29 additional personnel. The vessels are expected to have an endurance of 10 days with nine special forces operators on board.

The platforms are expected to receive a scaled-down fit of the same integrated navigation and command, control, and communications (C3) suite selected for larger vessels being delivered under the 'Legge Navale'.

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