The Italian Navy’s newest Logistic Support Ship (LSS), the Atlante, has successfully concluded a series of sea trials in the Gulf of Naples, marking a significant phase in its journey toward its official delivery, scheduled by the end of the year.
OCCAR press release
Built by the Temporary Consortium composed by FINCANTIERI and Leonardo industries, managed by OCCAR (Organisation for Joint Armament Co-operation), the Atlante represents the second vessel in a programme aimed at enhancing the Navy’s logistical capabilities.
These trials, known as Sea Acceptance Trials (SAT), are designed to rigorously assess the ship’s performance, including propulsion, navigation, and communication systems, as well as its core support functions such as refuelling and resupplying other naval units at sea. The ongoing sea-trials are crucial to ensure that Atlante meets all operational requirements before its delivery to the fleet.
The trials provided the Atlante with the unique opportunity to cross paths with the iconic training ship, the Marina Militare, Italian Navy´s training ship, the Amerigo Vespucci, which is currently concluding its world tour that began in July 2023. The encounter in the Gulf of Naples was more than a mere meeting of two ships; it symbolized a bridge between the Navy’s storied past and its forward-looking future.
The Amerigo Vespucci, launched in 1931 from the same Castellammare di Stabia shipyard where the Atlante was built, serves as a floating ambassador of Italian maritime tradition. Its return to the Gulf, coinciding with Atlante’s sea trials, highlighted the continuity and evolution of naval craftsmanship and heritage.
The Atlante stands as a testament to Italy’s commitment to maintaining a robust and modern naval fleet. The ship’s advanced capabilities are expected to significantly enhance the Navy’s operational endurance and global reach, ensuring readiness for a wide range of missions.
The LSS programme, managed by OCCAR, includes the development and production of six ships in cooperation with France. The Atlante is ready to play a key role in future Italian Navy operations. The ongoing trials not only serve to validate the ship’s systems, but also reinforce the enduring legacy of Italian naval excellence.
Once OCCAR has successfully delivered the, Atlante to Italy, the vessel will join the fleet, representing a blend of tradition and innovation that defines the Italian Navy’s approach to maritime operations.
The LSS is a vessel that provides logistics support to the fleet, endowed with hospital and healthcare capabilities thanks to the presence of a fully equipped hospital, complete with operating rooms, radiology and analysis rooms, a dentist’s office and hospital rooms that will be capable of hosting up to 17 seriously injured patients. The ship combines capacity to transport and transfer to other transport vessels used for liquids (diesel fuel, jet fuel, fresh water) and solids (emergency spare parts, food and ammunitions) and to perform at sea repairs and maintenance work for other vessels. The defense systems are related to the capacity of command and control in tactical scenarios, communications and dissuasive, non-lethal defense systems. The vessel is also capable of embarking more complex defence systems and becoming an intelligence and electronic war platform.
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About LSS Vulcano-class
The first LSS, ITS Vulcano, was delivered to the Italian Navy in March 2021 and cut steel of the second in class took place in July 2022.
As Naval News previously reported, the Chief of Italian Navy unveiled plans to fund under the DPP 2020-22 planning document the procurement of this additional Vulcano-class Logistic Support Ship.
The LSS is a vessel that provides logistics support to the fleet, endowed with hospital and healthcare capabilities thanks to the presence of a fully equipped hospital, complete with operating rooms, radiology and analysis rooms, a dentist’s office and hospital rooms that will be capable of hosting up to 17 seriously injured patients. The ship combines capacity to transport and transfer to other transport vessels used for liquids (diesel fuel, jet fuel, fresh water) and solids (emergency spare parts, food and ammunitions) and to perform at sea repairs and maintenance work for other vessels. The defense systems are related to the capacity of command and control in tactical scenarios, communications and dissuasive, non-lethal defense systems. The vessel is also capable of embarking more complex defence systems and becoming an intelligence and electronic war platform.
LSS Vulcano-class main specifications
- 193 meters long
- Speed of about 20 knots
- 235 persons including crew and specialists
- 4 replenishment station abeam and 1 astern
- Capacity to supply drinking water to land
- Capacity to provide electricity to land with 2500 kw of power
- Possibility of embarking up to 8 residential and healthcare modules
- Capacity to perform rescues at sea, through recovery and seabed operations (the ship is equipped with an 30 tons offshore stabilized crane stabilized)
- Base for rescue operations through helicopters and special vessels
