Aretusa - Marina Militare




Aretusa "Arethusa undis prospicit" The ship and her history The Aretusa (5304) survey vessel was delivered to the Italian Navy in 2002, together with the Galatea (5308), the second Ninfe-class unit. A catamaran in FRP (Fibre Reinforced Plastic), Arethusa has the following technical features: • Displacement: 415 t. • Length: 39,21 m. • Beam: 12,60 m. • Draught: 2.50 m. • Range: 1700 milles at 13 knots. The vessel was specifically designed for hydro-oceanographic surveys in harbours, shallow and deep waters and, in particular: • sounding; • topography of shorelines and port facilities; • seabed features; • collection of nautical and geographical data for the updating of nautical documentation; • detection of sunken vessels or dangerous underwater obstacles. The collected data are then processed by means of dedicated software programs and then used to produce: • paper and electronic nautical charts for the safety of navigation; • Additional Military Layers; • nautical, scientific and technical documentation for mariners. According to the legend, Arethusa was the most beautiful Nimph of Arcadia. Artemis loved her and took her hunting. One evening, tired and thirsty after a long day, she came across a clear stream and began bathing. The stream, however, was the river god Alpheus, who fell madly in love with her. Arethusa fled and, after a long chase, she asked her goddess Artemis for protection. Artemis turned her into a stream, which travelled under the earth to the Island of Ortygia, in Sicily.