Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri on Saturday launched the last of a series of FREMM (European Multi Mission Frigates) built for the Italian Navy as part of the Italian-French international cooperation agreement.
The frigate, named “Emilio Bianchi” was launched at the company’s shipyard in Riva Trigoso.
“There was great satisfaction today at our Riva Trigoso shipyard for the launching ceremony of the frigate 'Emilio Bianchi', the last in a series of 10 #FREMM units commissioned by the Italian Navy under the French-Italian international cooperation agreement, and under the coordination of #OCCAR.,” Fincantieri sain on X, formerly known as Twitter.
The ceremony was held in the presence of the Italian Navy’s Chief of Staff, Admiral Enrico Credendino, who was received by Fincantieri Chairperson Claudio Graziano and General Manager Naval Vessels Division, Dario Deste.
The ceremony was also attended by Gianmarco Medusei, Head of the Regional Council, and Joachim Sucker, the Director of the Joint Organization for Armaments Cooperation (OCCAR), among others.
The frigate is set to continue the outfitting activities at the Muggiano shipyard, in La Spezia, and is scheduled to be delivered in the summer of 2025.
It has a length of 144 meters, a width of 19.7 meters and a full load displacement of approximately 6,700 tons and will be able to reach a speed of over 27 knots with a maximum capacity of approximately 200 people on board.
“Thanks to all those who put their passion and expertise into the creation of the FREMM Emilio Bianchi, an integral part of the most important joint initiative developed among European industries,” the company statement read.
“Enthusiasm, innovation, and cooperation: this is how we bring the state of the art in Italian and European defense on board,” it added.
The FREMM program was born from the need to renew the line of old Navy units, including the “Lupo” and “Maestrale” classes, also built by Fincantieri.
Carlo Bergamini was delivered in 2012, Virginio Fasan in 2013, Carlo Margottini in 2014, Carabiniere in 2015, Alpino in 2016, Luigi Rizzo in 2017, Federico Martinengo in 2018, Antonio Marceglia in 2019 and Spartaco Schergat was launched in November 2023 and is currently in the advanced preparation phase at the integrated shipyard’s factories and whose delivery is scheduled for April 2025.
