First Sea Going for Italian Navy LSS Vulcano logistics support ship in December 2019.

The Italian Navy LSS “Vulcano” logistics support ship, named after one of the Eolian Islands North of Sicily, had her First Sea Going on 5th December 2019, logging her first nautical miles in the Gulf of La Spezia. This step of the program is a key contractual milestone towards the delivery of the ship to the Italian Navy (FOAR), scheduled for September 2020.

LSS Vulcano sets sail for the first time, outstanding achievement and success for OCCAR, NAVARM and the Italian Navy. (Picture source © Giorgio Arra via OCCAR website)

Only four years and a half have elapsed since the signing of the LSS contract in May 2015 and the FSG. This is a great achievement for OCCAR as contracting authority, given the exceptional challenges to finalize, under extreme time constraints, the reconstruction works of the aft part of the ship, after her launch in June 2018. The LSS “Vulcano” FSG bears witness of the success brought by the combined efforts of OCCAR, Italy as Participating State and Industry.

The "Vulcano" is expected to complete her sea trials by September 2020 and to be delivered to the Italian Navy that same month.

With France joining in January 2019, four more Logistic Support Ships will follow the path of their elder sister “Vulcano”, being the first delivery expected by the end of 2022.

The A5335 Vulcano is an auxiliary ship that will enter in service with the Italian Navy in 2020. Vulcano is being built by Fincantieri with hull number 6259. The stern section is being built at the Riva Trigoso Naval Shipyard and the bow section is being built at the Castellammare di Stabia (Naples) Naval Shipyard.

The French Navy through OCCAR also ordered four modified ships of the class to replace its Durance-class tankers to be delivered in 2022, 2025, 2027 and 2029.[6] France officially joined the program in October 2018.

The Vulcano LSS features double-hull with bulbous bow. The overall length of the vessel is 193m and the length between perpendiculars is 164.9m. The width and depths are 24m and 16.3m respectively.

The ship’s 4,100t front portion is 94m-long and 16.3m-high, while the aft section has a length of 86m and a weight of 7,000t.

With a full-load displacement of 23,000t, the LSS can accommodate a total of 200 people, including 167 crew members and special officers. Fully equipped hospital and healthcare facilities will be integrated in the ship to provide treatment for up to 12 injured personnel.

The logistics support ship will also have four replenishment stations amidships and one at the stern. Two special-purpose vessels will be carried on port and starboard sides in the middle of the ship to conduct search-and-rescue operations at sea. It will be able to embark up to eight residential and healthcare modules. A 30t capacity crane will be fitted to lift cargo in and out of ships.

The Vulcano will have a hangar towards the stern to house and maintain up to two EH101 Merlin utility helicopters. A flight will be placed next to the hangar to allow take-off and landing of a NH90 multi-role helicopter or an EH101 Merlin utility helicopter.