Warship Technology: January 2019
In the last few years, classification society RINA has been awarded some important contracts for fleet renewal projects for a number of navies. The last 12 months were particularly significant for the classification of new ships for the Italian Navy, which has embarked on €5.4 billion (US$6.1 billion) fleet renewal programme.
This includes the Pattugliatori Polivalenti d’Altura (PPA) project for a total of seven multipurpose patrol ships of 143m length overall that are under construction at Fincantieri Shipyards in Muggiano and Riva Trigoso.
The PPAs are a key part of the renewal of the Italian Navy fleet, which aims to replace a number of patrol boats, corvettes and frigates. Construction of the first PPA got underway in February 2017 followed by a keel-laying at Muggiano in May 2017. The first of the new vessels is currently due to be delivered in 2021 with the remaining six ships to be delivered between 2022 and 2026.
Another important project for the Italian Navy for which RINA is acting as classification society is a Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) amphibious warfare ship of 245m overall, construction of which is underway at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Castellammare di Stabia.
Construction of the LHD started with a steel cutting ceremony in July 2017. It is due to be delivered in 2022 and will replace the carrier Giuseppe Garibaldi. In conjunction with this project, RINA is also involved in the classification of four 23m landing craft, which are under construction at Vittoria Shipyard in Adria.
Another large-scale project in which RINA is providing classification services is the Italian Navy’s Logistic Support Ship (LSS). This 193m vessel was launched in June at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Muggiano. However, the ship subsequently suffered a severe fire on the bridge deck and the project is now delayed due to the necessary repairs.
Also being built under RINA class is the first Unità Polivalente ad Alta Velocità (UNPAV), a multipurpose patrol vessel of 44m length overall. This unit was launched by Intermarine Shipyard in Messina and is the first of a new class of two vessels.
Outside Italy, RINA is involved in another large programme in the renewal for the Qatari Navy. Construction of the first of a new class of four, 107m corvettes is underway at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Muggiano; two 63m offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) for the Qatari Navy are currently in the design approval phase.
In addition to the above mentioned new projects, RINA is continuing classification activity on existing programmes, including three FREMM frigates for the Italian Navy (seven examples of the type have already been delivered). The remaining vessels are approaching completion at the shipyards in Muggiano and Riva Trigoso.
Two mine countermeasures vessels (MCMVs) are being built for the Algerian Navy to RINA class. The 52m MCMVs are ships number two and three in a three-ship class, the first example of which is now in service.
A number of OPV projects ranging from 20m to 40m have also recently been acquired, including vessels for the Italian Customs Police (Guardia di Finanza), Italian Coast Guard, Italian Fire Department and the Greek Coast Guard.
RINA is also active in Indonesia, where it is involved in the classification of several OPVs for the Indonesian Navy and governmental bodies, as well as in South America, where it has been awarded an important contract by the Brazilian Navy for advanced engineering studies on a quartet of existing frigates and a corvette.
The classification society said it is also strongly committed to the development of new rules. Following the issue of the new edition of its RINAMIL Rules for the Classification of Naval Ships at the end of 2017, RINA is working on new rules for the classification of submarines and on guidelines for autonomous/unmanned vessels and is benchmarking the development of both on pilot projects.
RINA was also appointed as chair of the Naval Ship Classification Association (NSCA) and is a member of the steering committee of the International Naval Safety Association (INSA).
