The bow section of the third logistic support ship (LSS) for the French Navy, Emile Bertin, has been launched at Italian shipyard Fincantieri.
The Franco-Italian Logistic Support Ship (LSS) Program, managed by OCCAR on behalf of the French Armament General Directorate (DGA), and its Italian counterpart, NAVARM, aims at developing and producing six ships (two for Italy and four for France) along with in-service support (ISS), with an option for a third ship for the Italian Navy.
France fully joined the program in January 2019. The bow section was launched one year after the keel laying ceremony for the vessel. Now, this launch marks a significant milestone for the fast-paced LSS program.
This bow section will be carried to Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint Nazaire before the end of 2025 to be assembled with the part constructed in France for a delivery foreseen in 2027.
The French LSS Emile Bertin is the fifth ship in this program, following the Italian ships Vulcano and Atlante, and the French ships Jacques Chevallier and Jacques Stosskopf.
In April this year, Jacques Stosskopf underwent a series of sea trials, and the milestone represents the final phase before the delivery of the ship at the end of the year.