Senior Captain Tran Chi Tam, Deputy Chief of Staff of Naval Region 2 Command, representatives of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee, the Viet Nam Coast Guard’s Region 3 Command and the Department of Foreign Relations under the Ministry of National Defense, and Alessandra Tognonato, Consul General of Italy in Ho Chi Minh City, attended the welcoming ceremony.
    |
 |
|
The ITS Giovanni delle Bande Nere of the Italian Navy docks at Nha Rong Port in Ho Chi Minh City. |
The visit reflects goodwill and contributes to strengthening Viet Nam-Italy friendship and bilateral defense cooperation, while maintaining exchanges and contacts between the two navies.
During the visit, officers and sailors of the ITS Giovanni delle Bande Nere will pay courtesy calls on the leaders of the city People’s Committee and the Naval Region 2 Command, participate in sports and cultural exchanges with Vietnamese naval personnel, and visit cultural sites and historical relics in the city.
As part of the visit, a seminar themed “Safe Seas, Sustainable Supply Chains: Promoting Italy-Viet Nam Maritime Cooperation” will be held aboard the ITS Giovanni delle Bande Nere. The ship will also open its doors to local residents for visits.
The ITS Giovanni delle Bande Nere, pennant number P434, is a multi-purpose offshore patrol vessel of the Italian Navy. It is 143 meters long and 16.5 meters wide, with a draft of about 10.5 meters and a displacement of approximately 6,400 tons. The vessel has a top speed of 32 knots and an operational range of up to about 5,000 nautical miles.
The visit to Ho Chi Minh City is part of the Italian Navy’s deployment in the Indo-Pacific region. Before arriving in Viet Nam, the ITS Giovanni delle Bande Nere visited Japan and conducted joint training exercises with international naval forces.
Source: VNA