Italian Navy Commissions Landing Helicopter Dock ITS Trieste
The commissioning ceremony of ITS Trieste took place on December 7, 2024, in the port of Livorno, with President Sergio Mattarella participating. The new multirole and multipurpose amphibious unit was built by Fincantieri and falls within the naval program of the Defence maritime capability, approved by the Italian Government and Parliament and started in May 2015. At 245 meters long, it is the largest ship of the Italian naval fleet since the end of the Second World War and is destined to become its future flagship.
Pierroberto Folgiero, CEO of Fincantieri, said during the commissioning:
“Today is a moment of great national pride. The Trieste showcases Italy’s strategic vision and manufacturing excellence. This ship not only enhances Italy’s international standing but also underscores Fincantieri’s reliability and innovation as a defense partner. I thank our workforce for their dedication and skill in achieving this milestone, and I applaud the Navy for the exemplary collaboration that symbolizes a unified national effort. The *Trieste* embodies an Italy that looks to the future with determination and ambition.”
About ITS Trieste
The unit is approximately 245 meters long and has a maximum speed of 25 knots. It will be equipped with a combined diesel or gas turbine CODLOG (Combined Diesel Electric or Gas) propulsion system and an additional electric propulsion system for low-speed sailing. The new LHD, with a capacity of over 1,000 troops and sailors, will have a 230-metre-long helicopter flight deck capable of operating F-35B fighter jets.
Trieste will be able to enable the operations of a battalion of 600 personnel, and a 1,200-linear-metre-long dock garage for wheeled and tracked vehicles (both civilian and military). This floodable basin, 50 meters long and 15 meters wide, will enable the ship to deploy the most technologically advanced amphibious equipment and vehicles of the EU and NATO navies. Various cargo securing areas will be accessed via crane, stern, and side ramps, and cargo handling will be managed by internal ramps and elevators. A fully equipped hospital will also be available on board, with operating rooms, radiology and analysis, a dentist’s office, and patient rooms capable of accommodating up to 27 critically injured patients (further admissions are possible via duly equipped container modules).
During the ceremony Admiral Credendino, Chief of Naval Staff, told the assembled dignitaries and cadets that “we proudly welcome the Trieste into our fleet… We chose to mark this historic moment with the solemn oath of our cadets, many of whom will grow professionally aboard this ship, achieve their ambitions, and carry out missions of strategic importance for national interests.”
The LHD enables Italy to deploy forces rapidly to distant locations, projecting power beyond its borders, especially in the Mediterranean, North Africa, and even the Middle East. With the ability to launch helicopters, landing craft, and marines, the LHD enhances Italy’s capacity to undertake expeditionary missions, including amphibious operations and humanitarian assistance.