Intermarine USA To Build Third Fiberglass Minehunter For U.S. Navy

A third contract to build a reinforced fiberglass modified Lerici class minehunter has been awarded by the U.S. Navy to Intermarine USA of Savannah, Ga. Intermarine USA is a subsidiary of Montecatini, part of the Ferruzzi-Montedison Group. The new minehunter is expected to be completed in 1994.

The first minehunter built for the U.S. Navy at Intermarine's Savannah shipyard, the Osprey, was launched (for details, see page 50 of this issue).

The vessel, which is about 187 feet long and weighs 880 metric tons, has a single-piece flexible fiberglass keel capable of withstanding a close mine explosion. It is also equipped with sophisticated technology to locate mines with sonar and neutralize them via a remotely controlled underwater robot.

A second minehunter of the same class is currently under construction in Intermarine's Savannah shipyard. This second ship, to be named Heron, is scheduled to be launched in December.

Lerici class minehunters produced by Intermarine S.p.A. are used by the Italian navy as well as by the navies of three non-European countries.

Intermarine USA is wholly owned by Intermarine S.p.A., a subsidiary of Montecatini (Part of the Ferruzzi- Montedison Group).

Other stories from May 1991 issue

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