Fincantieri cuts steel for Italian Navy’s new hydro-oceanographic ship

The steel-cutting ceremony of the new hydro-oceanographic ship (N.I.O.M.) of the Italian Navy took place at Fincantieri’s Riva Trigoso shipyard on December 19.

The vessel is intended for mapping and scientific monitoring activities, as well as in support of the initiatives of the Hydrographic Institute.

The unit was designed paying attention to green aspects. Among its main features are technologies to contain emissions, a diesel-electric propulsion system to optimize fuel consumption, hull shapes to reduce drag and the use of environment-friendly materials. In the area of sustainability, the production process also participates in the company’s ongoing commitment to environmental management systems, as witnessed by all the Group’s Italian sites’ compliance with the ISO 14001 international standard.

The conception of the N.I.O.M. and its numerous scientific capabilities qualify it as a direct means of supporting the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals on the sea, according to the company.

A further key driver of the ship will be the focus on health and safety, aimed at ensuring the well-being of all personnel who will operate the ship during its operational life.

The delivery is scheduled for 2026 at the integrated shipyard in Riva Trigoso-Muggiano.

The renewal program of the naval units of the Navy’s hydrographic service is part of an innovative European project involving the Ministry of Defense. Within the scope of this project, a funding agreement has been reached between the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the Italian Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF).

The Hydrographic Institute of the Italian Navy is the Cartographic Body of the State appointed to produce official national nautical documentation.