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).
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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.
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“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