Italian Coast Guard awards 1+2 multi-role vessel tender to Fincantieri

The contract was signed on 15 November 2021 in Rome, at a ceremony at the headquarters of the Italian Coast Guard. The ceremony was attended by the senior ranking officer in Italy’s Coast Guard, Admiral Inspector Nicola Carlone, and the CEO of Fincantieri, Giuseppe Bono.

The contract is expected to be worth around EUR80 million (US$90.5m) and includes the construction of one multi-role offshore unit and a connected 5-year temporary support service contract. The contract includes an option for a further two multi-role offshore units. The original tender envisaged the design and construction of two vessels, The Motorship notes.

The 85-metre long multi-role units are designed to fulfil a wide range of different missions, ranging from sea rescue and maritime safety to civil protection. The vessels are also designed to support the Coast Guard’s responsibilities for marine conservation and fisheries protection, while it will also be able to contribute to environmental protection duties, as it features an anti-oil spill system (rec-oil).

The vessel will be equipped with two azimuthing electrical propulsor units, powered by an electrical generation plant, as well as two bow thrusters for dynamic positioning.

The new vessel will have be capable of maintaining long-range deep-sea operations for up to 20 days, with a range of over 4,800 miles. The vessel will also be equipped with the communication and navigation systems required to allow her to coordinate air and naval assets in operational areas.

The high flexibility and the necessary multi-role capacity of the ship are enhanced by the presence of a large working deck with offshore cranes and a boarding ramp for wheeled vehicles. The vessel will also be equipped with a flight deck to allow the landing and take-off of helicopters, along with a dedicated rescue zone with related inflatable boats with rigid keel (Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat).