The Italian FREMM – on her Naval Campaign in Middle East and Arabian Sea – will conduct cooperation activities with the local navy and provide support to national industry
From Wednesday 6 to Friday 8 March, the European Multi-Mission Frigate (FREMM) ITS Carlo Margottini will call at Muscat, Oman, seventh and last stopover of her naval campaign in Middle East and Arabian Sea, aimed at ensuring presence and surveillance in the area for the protection of sea lines of communication of national interest.
This campaign is included among the activities conducted in the framework of international cooperation and dialogue among countries of that area, with which Italy maintains important political, diplomatic, economic and industrial relations. It is also an important opportunity to promote the national “country system” in an integrated way, assisting and supporting the activities of major representatives of the Italian defence industry, namely
Fincantieri, Leonardo, MBDA and Elettronica, whose partnership with the Italian Navy and Defence contributed to the realisation of this initiative.
After her recent stop in Qatar, the port visit of ITS Margottini at Muscat once again shows the Italian Navy’s concern with technological developments as well as its significant partnerships with the national industry for the design and production of advanced platforms and systems such as the FREMM units.
After leaving Muscat, ITS Margottini, whose naval campaign is coming to an end, will resume her activities ensuring presence and surveillance in the area for the support and protection of national interests.
Media partners of the naval campaign are Rivista Italiana Difesa (RID), Report Difesa and Agenzia Nova.
Focus
ITS MARGOTTINI – FOLLOW THE CAMPAIGN
Frigate Carlo Margottini – commanded by Commander Marco Guerriero – is the third unit of the Italo-French FREMM programme and the second in ASW (Anti-Submarine Warfare) version. She was launched on 29 June 2013 in the Riva Trigoso (Genoa) shipyard, delivered to the Italian Navy on 27 February 2014, and received her battle flag on 22 April 2016 in Reggio Calabria.
Identified by the hull number F 592, according to NATO classification, the ship has a displacement of 6700 tons, can reach a speed of 27 knots, and has a crew of 168 men and women.
This new-generation frigate can be deployed in an extensive range of missions.
Since her commissioning, ITS Margottini has taken part in the following activities:
2014: Operation Mare Nostrum;February 2015: Smart Hunt anti-submarine exercise, with the German Navy;June 2016: activity with the US Navy for the promotion of the Green Fleet;May 2017: Mare Aperto 2017 Exercise;March 2018: first naval diplomacy campaign in Middle East.
· ITS Margottini has also participated in Operations Mare Sicuro and Atalanta, providing presence, surveillance and maritime security.
