TRIESTE – At the Port of Ravenna, the second “floating caisson” destined for the Ferrati dry dock at the Taranto Naval Arsenal was launched, as part of the Italian Navy’s infrastructure renewal plan.
The structure was built by Fincantieri Infrastructure under the TLSM contract, with Orizzonte Sistemi Navali as prime contractor. Construction was carried out in blocks at the Valeggio sul Mincio yard, followed by transfer and assembly in an area adjacent to the Port of Ravenna.
The floating caisson, entirely made of steel, is registered in the Italian Navy’s floating craft register under the designation GP73. It has a length of around 42 metres, a height of 14 metres and an overall weight of about 460 tonnes.
Transfer and launching operations were carried out using special transporters and two lattice-boom cranes of around 1,000 tonnes each. Subsequent ballasting activities completed the stability test, with a positive outcome. RINA took part in the inspection and certified the unit’s suitability for navigation.