Italian Navy frigate departs from Larnaca port after joint military exercise

The Italian Navy’s frigate Virginio Fasan departed from the Larnaca port on Tuesday after being docked there from February 8 to 10 as part of patrolling operations in the Eastern Mediterranean, the Italian embassy in Nicosia announced.

According to the embassy, the frigate, which completed a joint military exercise with the Cyprus Navy in recent days, is conducting patrolling operations in the Eastern Mediterranean for presence and surveillance activities, in compliance with international law and to safeguard national interests.

“The presence of the Fasan in Cyprus is part of the ‘naval diplomacy’ activities carried out by the Italian Navy in the context of international cooperation and dialogue with the countries of the area, with which Italy has important political, diplomatic, economic and cultural relations,” the Italian embassy in Nicosia said.

It added that “the Fasan is the latest Italian ship to visit the island, after a series of calls by Italian ships to Cyprus ports in the last few months.”

The frigate Virginio Fasan, commanded by Comm. Daniele Vailati, is the second of the FREMM class units, and the first in ASW (Anti-Submarine Warfare) configuration. It was consigned to the Italian Navy in 2013 and is currently serving with the First Marine Division Command, based in La Spezia.