The funding for this program is
being provided through the
Ministry of Industry and will help
support the nation’s shipbuilding
industry, more specifically its
largest builder Fincantieri, based in
Trieste. Italian shipbuilders have
been hurt with declining orders in
the cruise and commercial shipbuilding sectors. The large LHDs
are needed to help support the
industry during the recession.
At the same time, the Italian government is canceling the four later
units of the Bergamini-class
(FREMM) frigates. The new LHDs
are around half the price of the
frigates — $369 million per unit vs.
$670 million — and are needed now
to help sustain the shipbuilding
industry. The four Bergamini vessels
were not scheduled to be funded and
start construction until after 2013.
The first two LHDs will replace
the first two San Giorgio-class
landing platform dock ships com-
missioned in the late 1980s. The
third unit, with extensive aviation
facilities, will replace the Garibaldi
aircraft carrier. Fincantieri will be
the lead builder of the three ships
with work possibly being split
between the Muggiano and Riva
Trigoso yards.
Sweden Orders
Patrol Vessels
For Coast Guard
The Swedish Coast Guard has
ordered five KBV 312 patrol vessels
that will be used for surveillance,
border control, fishing control,
search and rescue and other related
functions. The KBV 312s will be
built at Baltic Workboats in
Estonia and be 87 feet long, have a
20. 3 foot beam and a top speed of
more than 30 knots.
The first unit of the class is
expected to be completed by 2011,
with the four subsequent vessels
entering service in nine-month
intervals. It is anticipated that an
additional five units will be
ordered around 2013 to fulfill the
Coast Guard’s requirement for 10
units in the 35-ton range.
AMI International Inc., Bremerton, Wash.,
is an international consulting and naval
intelligence services company located on
the Web at www.amiinter.com.
SEAPOWER / SEPTEMBER 2010
