The Italian warship Alpino, NATO Frigate 594, arrived at Pier 88 late Tuesday evening. The ship’s visit was advertised in advance by the Italian consulate, but she came in quietly, with AIS off until reaching the Ambrose light where the pilot likely boarded. Alpino is on a tour of Atlantic ports after completing exercises in the North Atlantic with US carrier USS George HW Bush and her task force, a preliminary shakedown for the carrier group before returning to service after a period offline in Norfolk.

Alpino will be here through Sunday, with tours available on Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10:30 to 13:30 and from 15:30 to 18:30 according to the schedule released by the consulate. The ship has a group of Canadian officers embarked for training who are leading tours for English speakers.

Alpino is carrying a SH-90 helicopter and is configured for anti-submarine missions. She is newer and more advanced than Canada’s aging frigate fleet, but less well adapted to North Atlantic conditions. The U.S. Navy currently has no frigates and the Alpino has about 2/3rds the tonnage of the larger US Arleigh Burke destroyers.

In additon to Alpino, a pair of Canadian coastal defense boats arrived at Pier 90 for a visit on Wednesday morning. These 181-foot Kingston-class boats, Moncton and Edmonton, are being retired in the next few years in favor of heavier Arctic patrol vessels. Pier 90 is currently closed to cruise ships due to structural issues but can still accommodate visits like this.