Italian ship Leonardo (A 5301)

Leonardo (A 5301) is a coastal research vessel owned by NATO and operated by the Italian Navy on behalf of the Centre for Maritime Research and Experimentation^[3] Her homeport is La Spezia, Italy.

Leonardo A 5301, 2014
History
Italy
Name	Leonardo
Namesake	Leonardo da Vinci
Owner	NATO
Ordered	19 December 2000 [1]
Builder	Shipyard McTay Marine Ltd - Bromborough, England
Launched	3 January 2002
Commissioned	- 30 April 2002 (public vessel) - 16 November 2009 (Navy)
Homeport	La Spezia
Identification	IMO number: 9251303 MMSI number: 247155800 Callsign: IALE Pennant number: A 5301
Status	Active
General characteristics
Type	Coastal Research vessel
Tonnage	316 GT 96 NT
Displacement	433 t (426 long tons) full load
Length	- 28.6 m (93 ft 10 in) LOA - 23.4 m (76 ft 9 in) LPP
Beam	15.2 m (49 ft 10 in) molded
Draught	2.76 m (9 ft 1 in) full load
Propulsion	main electrical generators: - 1 x diesel engine generator Cummins KTA-38 6, 620 kW (830 bhp) - 2 x diesel engines generators Cummins N-14 6, 236 kW (316 bhp) each harbor generator: - 1 x diesel engine generator Onan Cummins MCGBA, 36 kW (48 bhp) propellers: - 2 x main propellers (Azimuth) Schottel SRP330m - 1 x Bow thruster (Azimuth) Schottel SPJ 57RD
Speed	10.0 knots (18.5 km/h; 11.5 mph) (sustained sea speed)
Range	1,850 nmi (3,430 km; 2,130 mi) at 8 knots (15 km/h; 9.2 mph)
Endurance	port to port, 5 days
Complement	- 14 (given its role on a day light activities, accommodations are very limited: only 6 double cabins, shared between crew and scientists), of which: - 8 crew (of which, 2 officials) - up to 6 scientists (in day running operations)
Sensors & processing systems	- Sperry Marine dual interswitched X-band and S-band BridgeMaster E 250 radars with 18-inch high-resolution flat-panel displays[2] - Kongsberg fully integrated Maritime Bridge - Kongsberg MDM 400 - echo sounder Kongsberg EA400
Notes	- fuel capacity: 51.2 m3 - fresh water capacity: 35.8 t (35.2 long tons)

History

Leonardo was delivered to the NATO Underwater Research Centre - NURC (SACLANTCEN) on 30 April 2002 and was accorded the flag of a public vessel of the Republic of Italy under a 2001 Memorandum of Understanding between the Italian Ministry of Defence (MOD-IT) and the Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic.

On 16 November 2009, CRV Leonardo was transferred to the Italian Navy. She holds the status of an auxiliary of the Italian Navy and is crewed by the military. The NATO Underwater Research Centre - NURC is now named the Centre for Maritime Research and Experimentation and is based in La Spezia, and specialises in research in acoustic and environmental fields.^[4]

Characteristics

Source ^[5]

• scientific primary working area (aft): 59 m² (640 sq ft)
• scientific main laboratory: 31.2 m² (336 sq ft)
• capacity to carry a single ISO 1D standard, 10 ft (3.0 m), container
• multibeam echo-sounder Simrad EM-3000

Communication systems:

• Main GMDSS MF/HF transceiver Sailor HC 4500
• deck VHF transceiver Sailor RT 4722
• GMDSS SARTS transmitter Jotron 8 GHz
• Prodel UHF transmitter ICOM IC 4088SR