FINCANTIERI: LAUNCH OF THE FIRST NEXT-GENERATION OFFSHORE PATROL VESSEL FOR THE ITALIAN NAVY

The launch ceremony of the next-generation Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) “Ugolino Vivaldi” was held today at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Riva Trigoso. This is the first of four units that Fincantieri is building for the Italian Navy. The vessels are part of a program assigned to Orizzonte Sistemi Navali, a joint venture between Fincantieri (51%) and Leonardo (49%), by the Naval Armaments Directorate, part of the National Armaments Directorate. The vessel

Attending the event were the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Italian Navy, Vice Admiral Fabio Gregori; the Chief of Staff of the Liguria Region, Massimiliano Nannini, representing the President of the Liguria Region; the Mayor of Sestri Levante, Francesco Solinas; and the CEO of Orizzonte Sistemi Navali, Giovanni Sorrentino. For Fincantieri, the Operations Director of the Naval Vessels Division, Attilio Dapelo, and the Director of the Integrated Riva Trigoso-Muggiano Shipyard, Antonio Quintano, were in attendance. Godmother of the launch was Alessandra Marsigli Cavriani, granddaughter of the posthumous Gold Medal of Military Valor Lieutenant Commander Alessandro Cavriani, who was lost at sea while scuttling the ship Ugolino Vivaldi in September 1943.

With a length of approximately 95 meters, a displacement of about 2,400 tons, and the capacity to accommodate 93 crew members, the “Vivaldi” stands out for its concentration of technological solutions, as well as for its standards of excellence in terms of automation and maneuverability, making it suitable for a wide range of tactical scenarios and weather conditions. Among the most notable innovations is the integrated naval cockpit, developed for the Multi Purpose Combat Ships (PPA) of the Italian Navy, the result of collaboration between Fincantieri NexTech and Leonardo, representing a generational leap. This station allows the control of engines, rudders, and platform systems, as well as some combat system functions, by just two operators—the pilot and co-pilot—optimizing efficiency and safety.

The OPV program addresses the need to ensure adequate capabilities for presence and surveillance, maritime patrol, merchant traffic control, protection of communication lines and the exclusive economic zone, as well as activities to counter threats from marine pollution, such as the spillage of toxic liquids. For Fincantieri, the OPV program marks an important milestone, further strengthening its position as a global leader in naval defense through the FCX product family, of which the new patrol vessels are a part. This project also confirms Fincantieri’s role as a strategic partner of the Italian Navy.