Fincantieri has held the first steel-cutting ceremony for the ninth Multipurpose Patrol Ship (PPA 9) at its Riva Trigoso shipyard in Italy.
The ceremony, held on 15 October, featured the traditional activation of a laser cutting machine, marking the formal start of production activities.
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Representatives from Fincantieri, the prime contractor, the Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR), the contracting authority and the Italian Navy attended the event.
In a post on social media, Fincantieri said: “We further strengthen our bond with the Italian Navy, reaffirming our commitment to bringing on board the integration of next-generation technologies and responding to the needs of security and protection of our seas.”
PPA 9 will be built in the Full Combat Configuration under Contract Amendment No. 10. According to OCCAR, the configuration will include enhanced combat-system capabilities for operations across a range of maritime missions and principal warfare domains.
OCCAR said the PPA design would reduce emissions through the use of new-generation biofuel and electric propulsion. The vessels are designed for flexibility, high speed, extended endurance, resilience, seaworthiness, manoeuvrability, modularity, integration and automation.
They will also be capable of deployment over long distances in a wide range of emergency situations and are intended to form a central part of the Italian Navy’s fleet.
Within the PPA programme, five ships have so far entered service with the Italian Navy, with a sixth still under construction.
PPA 9 will be the seventh and final vessel handed over under the current agreement.
In a post on LinkedIn, OCCAR said: “As the seventh and final unit to be delivered under the Programme, PPA 9 represents the culmination of a significant naval procurement initiative, providing the Italian Navy with a highly capable, flexible and technologically advanced platform designed to meet current and future operational requirements.”
