It took place on December 13 in Messina, the delivery of the new ship of the Italian Coast Guard, “Aurelio VISALLI”, third of a class of naval units called “Angels of the Sea”, designed for search and rescue at sea and dedicated to the personnel of the Corps who lost their lives during the service, which was awarded the Gold Medal for the highest professionalism and sense of duty.
The launch ceremony and presentation of the Unit took place at the Intermarine S.p.A. shipyards (Immsi Group) in Messina, in the presence of the Commander General of the Corps of Port Authorities – Coast Guard, Admiral Chief Inspector Nicola Carlone, the President of Intermarine, Antonino Parisi, and Mrs. Tindara Grosso, wife of the soldier and godmother of the event. Today’s delivery of Nave Visalli will allow to start the planned period of familiarization by the crew, to make the ship, entrusted to the command of Lieutenant Andrea Graziani, operational as soon as possible.
The 2nd Chief Aurelio VISALLI, already in service at the Port Authority of Milazzo, lost his life on September 26, 2020 in a heroic attempt to save two young people from the force of the sea. These dramatic circumstances testified to the generosity, courage and sense of humanity of the Petty Officer, who was subsequently awarded the Gold Medal for Naval Valor.
“Boldness, generosity of spirit and uncommon sense of duty … – reads the motivation of the medal – … example of courage, altruism and the highest sense of duty pushed to the extreme sacrifice”, the words addressed to Aurelio, who “… He ended up consciously exposing his own life to manifest danger” in an attempt to save the lives of others.”
The ship “Aurelio VISALLI”, as well as the twins “Natale DE GRAZIA”, first of the class, and “Roberto ARINGHIERI”, responds to the characteristics of a new type of ships conceived and designed to fulfill the most important task that history and law entrust to the Coast Guard: search and rescue at sea, a mission, which the new Unit can carry out even in extreme weather and sea conditions.
Excellence of Italian shipbuilding and pride of the seafaring capabilities of our country, it stands out for being one of the largest ships in the SAR (Search and Rescue) sector in the world, as well as the longest “self-righting” and “unsinkable” boat ever built in Italy. The “VISALLI”, with its 10 crewmen, represents the best of today’s naval technology, with state-of-the-art propulsion and communication tools. A ship of over 33 meters with an advanced command and control system that ensures greater autonomy, greater accommodation capacity and better logistics for the crew and for the shelter of shipwrecked. It has a maximum speed of over 30 knots and, at a speed of 28 knots, guarantees a range of over 1,000 nautical miles.
“This ship – said Admiral Nicola Carlone – thanks to its proven nautical skills, once it enters service, will become a concrete expression of generosity and courage, becoming guardian in the collective memory of Aurelio and his values, which have made him an example for all of us and for the country. To his loved ones, my closeness and that of the whole “big family” of the Coast Guard ».
The ship was built in the Messina plants, by the shipyards Intermarine S.p.A. (Immsi Group) of Sarzana and was built with European funds under the Internal Security Funds 2014-2020 – Specific Action 70.2.AS2 “ANIMO ANIMO VITAM MARI DEDIT”: The ship operates “with the courage of those who dedicate their lives to the sea” is the official motto of the Unit, which expresses, thanks to the authority of the Latin language, the sense of belonging to the Corps, the courage and generosity of VISALLI, and his legacy to the new generations and to those who, like him, are part of the great crew of the Coast Guard, committed every day to the service of others.
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