Two Italian corvettes prepare for new life as Bangladesh Coast Guard vessels

The Italian Navy has, one last time, bid farewell to its two decommissioned Minerva-class corvettes which will continue their lives as Bangladesh Coast Guard ships.

ITS Danaide and ITS Urania left the Navy yard to undergo conversion works before they are delivered to the Bangladesh Coast Guard.

The two vessels were previously decommissioned during a ceremony held March 10, 2016.

Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri in July 2015 announced that it has signed a contract to provide the Bangladesh Coast Guard with four offshore patrol vessels.

Under the contract, Fincantieri was to upgrade and convert four Italian Navy Minerva-class corvettes into Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs), and to provide the related logistics support services.

The first two vessels, Minerva and Sibilla, left the Navy yard in June 2015 and are currently conducting sea trials as converted coast guard vessels. The two vessels were already named by the Bangladesh Ministry of Defence as BCGS Syed Nazrul (Pennant number: PL-71) and BCGS Tajuddin (Pennant number: PL-72).

Bangladesh Coast Guard will use the vessels to patrol the country’s maritime boundaries and traffic in its Exclusive Economic Zone, with capabilities to contain environmental pollution and to rescue and assist civilians in the case of humanitarian emergencies.