Lisbon includes Italian units in the European Safe program. RID confirms the rumor.

The naval alliance between Italy and Portugal is strengthening, with significant industrial potential. According to increasingly credible rumors, the Portuguese Navy has identified Fincantieri as the ideal partner for the supply of three FREMM EVO frigates, intended to replace the Vasco da Gama class.

Although there is still no official confirmation—and Fincantieri is maintaining confidentiality—the specialized publication Rivista Italiana Difesa has found important confirmation: the Portuguese government has included the project in the shortlist of SAFE (Security Action For Europe) programs sent to Brussels to secure funding by the end of the year.

Details the agreement

The agreement, estimated at around €3 billion, marks a point in favor of Italian technology (reportedly preferred to the French Naval Group proposal), but a complex logistical challenge has emerged. A technical analysis reported by CNN Portugal highlighted the issues posed by the characteristics of the new vessels, which are currently incompatible with the infrastructure of the Alfeite naval base.

 The port's physical limitations

The difficulty specifically concerns the port's physical limitations: Lisbon Port Authority regulations set precise parameters for the access channel: an operating depth of 6 meters and a maximum allowable length of 135 meters, while the Italian FREMM EVO vessels measure approximately 145 meters and, considering the fully loaded sonar appendages, have a draft of over 8 meters.

Without structural upgrades

Without structural upgrades, the entry and exit of the vessels from the base would be restricted by tide tables, allowing maneuvers only at high tide: a constraint that would limit the ability to rapidly deploy the vessels in an emergency. To accommodate the new flagships, Portugal will necessarily have to plan a dredging campaign of the access channel; an operation similar to that carried out in 2004 for the arrival of the German submarines, but likely on a larger scale.

Another, even more stringent, constraint is maintenance.

Another, even more stringent, constraint is maintenance. The Alfeite arsenal currently has a dry dock just 18 meters wide, insufficient to accommodate the 20-meter maximum beam of the FREMM vessels. This size discrepancy will force the Portuguese government to invest in expanding the facilities or outsource dry dock maintenance to other shipyards.

The final decision goes to Brussels for the green light to the Safe funds. If confirmed, Fincantieri will secure a strategic order in the Mediterranean, while Lisbon will have to commit to upgrading its seabed and facilities by 2030.

The FREMM program

The FREMM program is a joint Italian-French Defense industrial co-operation project for a new generation of frigates, having a common baseline, but differing from one country to the other as a function of different operational requirements. The frigates for the Italian Navy are built at the Fincantieri’s integrated naval shipyard of Riva Trigoso-Muggiano. The ships have a full load displacement of about 6,500 tons, an overall length of about 144 metres and a top speed exceeding 27 knots. 

About Fincantieri 

Fincantieri is one of the world's largest shipbuilding groups, the only player active in all high complexity marine industry sectors. The Group is a leader in the construction of cruise ships, naval and offshore vessels, and stands out for its extensive experience in the development of underwater solutions, thanks to its integrated industrial structure capable of managing and coordinating all activities related to the commercial, defense, and dual-use sectors. It holds a strong presence in key markets also thanks to the internalization of high value-added, distinctive technologies; it is also a leader in sustainable innovation and in the digital transformation of the shipbuilding  sector

Related : Fincantieri invests €40M Shipyard Expansion Plan

 Fincantieri , FREMM vessels ,The FREMM program , Lisbon Port Authority, Portuguese Navy ,Rivista Italiana Difesa , EVO frigates