Fincantieri Launched the Sixh FREMM Frigate “Luigi Rizzo” for the Italian Navy

: Posted On Saturday, 19 December 2015 16:07

Naval Industry News - Italy

Fincantieri Launched the Sixh FREMM Frigate “Luigi Rizzo” for the Italian Navy

The launching ceremony of the frigate “Luigi Rizzo”, the sixth of a series of 10 FREMM vessels - Multi Mission European Frigates – took place today at the Riva Trigoso shipyard (Genoa). The 10 FREMM vessels have been commissioned to Fincantieri by the Italian Navy within the framework of an Italo-French cooperation program under the coordination of OCCAR (Organisation Conjointe de Cooperation sur l’Armement, the international organization for cooperation on arms).

“Luigi Rizzo” is the sixth FREMM unit which Fincantieri builds and delivers to the Italian Navy. It is the second FREMM in GP "General Purpose" configuration. Picture: Fincantieri

The ceremony was attended among others by, Giovanni Toti, Governor of Liguria, Admiral Giuseppe De Giorgi, Chief of Staff of the Italian Navy and the CEO of Fincantieri Giuseppe Bono.

After the launching, fitting activities will continue in the Integrated naval shipyard of Muggiano (La Spezia), with delivery scheduled in early 2017. The “Luigi Rizzo” vessel will feature a high degree of flexibility, capable of operating in all tactical situations. 144 metres long with a beam of 19.7 metres, the ship will have a displacement at full load of approximately 6,700 tonnes. The “Luigi Rizzo” will have a maximum speed of over 27 knots and will provide accommodation for a 200-person crew.

The ships of the FREMM program represent the state of the art of the European and Italian defence and will replace the “Lupo” and “Maestrale” class frigates built by Fincantieri in the 1970s.

The vessels “Carlo Bergamini” and “Virginio Fasan” have been delivered in 2013, the “Carlo Margottini” in 2014, the “Carabiniere” in 2015, while the delivery of the “Alpino” is scheduled in 2016. With the option exercised last April for the construction of the ninth and tenth vessel, whose delivery is scheduled after 2020, the Italian program has been fully implemented.