Italian shipbuilder hands over new vessel to Algerian Navy

Italy's Orizzonte Sistemi Navali has delivered a landing platform dock ship to the Navy of Algeria.

The Kalaat Beni-Abbes, which will serve as the Algerian navy's flagship, was turned over to Algerian authorities on Thursday at the company shipyard in La Spezia.

The ship is a derivative of the Italian navy's San Giusto-class of LPDs. It is about 460 feet long and displaces about 8,800 tons when fully loaded. Speed of the vessel is more than 20 knots.

Features include an internal floodable dock for landing craft and a full-length flight deck, with two helicopter landing spots, fore and aft. It is also equipped as a floating hospital, complete with operating facilities.

Orizzonte Sistemi Navali is controlled by Fincantieri and Selex ES.

"The contract (for the ship), of particular importance internationally, also includes the provision of logistical support to the customer during crew training," Fincantieri said. "In fact, the training of Algerian personnel by the Italian Navy, taking place since 2013, is using the facilities of the Fincantieri Training Academy, a project initiated by Fincantieri in conjunction with the Italian Navy with the aim of training the crew of ships in the process of delivery."