Ninfe-class research vessel

The Ninfe class of survey vessels ^[2] consists of two catamaran hulls operated by the Marina Militare Italiana.

Galatea at the Port of Livorno, 2013
Class overview
Name	Ninfe class
Builders	Intermarine, Sarzana (La Spezia)
Operators	Italian Navy
Preceded by	Mirto and Pioppo
In commission	2002
Planned	2
Completed	2
Active	2
General characteristics
Type	Survey vessel
Displacement	415 t (408 long tons) full load
Length	39.21 m (128 ft 8 in) LOA
Beam	12.6 m (41 ft 4 in)
Draught	2.5 m (8 ft 2 in)
Propulsion	- 2 x diesel engines Isotta Fraschini V1708-T2-ME (1,396 kW (1,872 hp) each) with ABB/Marelli generator - 2 x diesel engine AIFO GE8210M22, for harbour duties - 2 x Schottel STP-300 azimuthal propellers - 2 Schottel bow thrusters[1]
Speed	13 knots (24 km/h; 15 mph)
Range	1,700 nmi (3,100 km; 2,000 mi) at 13 knots (24 km/h; 15 mph)
Complement	31
Sensors and processing systems	2 x navigation radar GEM Elettronica SPN-753

Features

They was designed to carry out hydro-oceanographic surveys at high sea and in harbours and shallow waters, in order to guarantee the production and updating of nautical charts.
Main activities:
^[3]

• sounding
• minimum depth
• topography of shorelines and port facilities
• seabed features
• collection of nautical and geographical data for the updating of nautical documentation
• detection of sunken vessels or dangerous underwater obstacles

The collected data are then processed by means of dedicated software programs and then used to produce:

• paper and electronic nautical charts for the safety of navigation
• Additional Military Layers
• nautical, scientific and technical documentation for mariners
• oceanographic databases for scientific purposes

Characteristics

It is fitted with:

• multi-beam echo sounder Simrad EM300 (30 kHz)^[4]
• single-beam echo sounder Simrad EA500 (12, 120 e 200 kHz)
• single-beam echo sounder Atlas Deso 25 (33, 100 e 210 kHz)
• Side Scan Sonar towed Simrad MS992
• differential and RTK satellite positioning systems
• Sippican XBT MK21 bathythermograph system
• CTD profiler with rosette system Ocean Seven 316 used for water sampling at different depths
• Van Veen buckets
• Sindel weather station

The ship is equipped one survey motor-boat for coastal and shallow water surveys fitted with:

• single beam Simrad EA400 (38 e 200 kHz)
• multi-beam echo sounders Simrad EM3000 (300 kHz)

Ships

Italian Navy - Ninfe class
Name	Pennant number	Laid down	Launched	Commissioned	Motto
Aretusa	A 5304		9 May 2000	10 January 2002	Arethusa undis prospicit
Galatea	A 5308		7 June 2000	10 January 2002	Felix Galatea vivas