The first of five IY 11.98 vessels built for the Italian Navy (Marina Militare) has officially departed from the Italia Yachts shipyard in the Marche region. This initial transfer marks the transition from the design and construction phase to the delivery stage for the fleet commissioned by the Armed Forces, specifically crafted for personnel training and instruction.
The five units, tailored to precise technical specifications defined by the Navy in collaboration with Marivela, will be deployed within the Italian Navy Sailing Sport program (Sport Velico della Marina Militare). The project combines the high sailing performance characteristic of the IY 11.98 model with the operational requirements needed for training activities to strengthen nautical and seafaring skills.
A Journey of Close Technical Collaboration
The departure of the first unit from the shipyard comes after continuous technical cooperation between Italia Yachts and the Italian Navy. A key milestone in the project was the shipyard visit by the Navy’s technical commission at the start of construction, allowing them to closely monitor the program’s development and address key technical aspects.
“The departure of the first unit is a moment of great satisfaction and pride for us,” stated Daniele De Tullio, CEO of Italia Yachts. “We worked based on precise technical requirements set out by the Italian Navy, developing the project through constant dialogue. The goal was not merely to build boats, but to create purpose-built tools for personnel training and instruction. Seeing the first IY 11.98 leave the shipyard today represents the culmination of this effort and the beginning of a new chapter for the project.”
Italian Shipbuilding Excellence
Beyond reinforcing sailing as an educational and training discipline within the Armed Forces, this partnership highlights the strength and flexibility of Made in Italy shipbuilding. It demonstrates the industry’s ability to provide engineering expertise and production adaptability to meet specialized military requirements. With this first departure, the operational phase of the supply agreement is officially underway.
