On 26 January, at Fincantieri’s Riva Trigoso shipyard (Genoa), the technical launching ceremony was held for the new Major Hydro-Oceanographic Ship (NIOM), christened QUIRINALE.

The vessel, which is intended to replace the current MAGNAGHI, will complete its outfitting at Fincantieri’s Muggiano shipyard (La Spezia), where it will be transferred by barge in the coming days (the transfer was originally planned to take place immediately after launching, but adverse sea and weather conditions prevented it). Completion and delivery of the ship are scheduled for 2027.

The NIOM QUIRINALE has a displacement of 6,400 t, an overall length of 110 m and a beam of 20 m, while the crew numbers 80 personnel. Given its research and survey roles, the vessel can also accommodate an additional complement of up to 35 researchers. The ship is equipped with a fully electric propulsion system of the IFEP type, based on 4 diesel generators—developed through cooperation between MAN and Isotta Fraschini—rated at 2.5 MW each, driving 2 Kongsberg azimuthing pods of approximately 3 MW. In addition, the ship is fitted with 2 bow thrusters, providing DP2 dynamic positioning capability.

Given the emphasis on operations in Arctic regions, the NIOM has been designed to operate in such environments, at least during certain periods of the year. Beyond its dedicated scientific suite—including multiple types of echo sounders, acoustic profilers, magnetometric, gravimetric and radiometric systems, among others—the vessel will be able to deploy both remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs). The ship will be capable of conducting surveys at depths of up to 10,000 m.

The commissioning of QUIRINALE fits into the broader renewal of the Italian Navy’s hydrographic and oceanographic capabilities, which are increasingly relevant not only for scientific research, but also for maritime security, seabed awareness and the protection of critical underwater infrastructure. In an environment marked by growing competition over subsea domains—cables, pipelines and seabed resources—dedicated survey platforms such as NIOMs play a key enabling role for both military and civilian missions.

Moreover, the ability to operate in Arctic environments reflects the Italian Navy’s growing attention to the High North, where climate change is opening new sea routes and increasing strategic competition, making hydro-oceanographic data a critical asset for both navigation safety and military planning.

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