ROME — Italian shipyard Fincantieri has signed a new cooperation agreement on subsea technology to tap into the growing market for underwater drones and cable and pipeline protection.
The company has signed a memorandum of understanding with Italian energy company Saipem to develop ways to integrate Saipem's autonomous underwater vehicles with Fincantieri's ships and submarines.
“This agreement aims to enable both companies to participate in major programs in the Italian and international markets in the field of monitoring and control of critical underwater infrastructure and rescue operations,” Fincantieri said in a statement. .
Concern about how to protect undersea energy pipelines and communications cables was sparked by the Nord Stream pipeline attack in the Baltic Sea in 2022, and concerns about cable failures in the Red Sea amid shipping attacks by the Houthis. Recent reports have further increased this.
So far, the oil and gas industry has moved faster than the defense sector when it comes to maintaining and monitoring subsea infrastructure.
Saipem claims to be the first company in the world to sell an autonomous underwater drone that can operate at depths of 3,000 meters.
The company's Hydrone-R drone can remain underwater for 12 months using a docking station connected to the water's surface for charging and data relay.
Last year, the company briefed military officials on the technology at a conference hosted by the Italian Navy to consider incorporating it into the EU's ongoing joint undersea security plan.
The agreement between Saipem and Fincantieri was signed on Tuesday at the Italian Navy's Rome headquarters.
The deal was the latest in a series of deals in this area signed by Fincantieri.
Last year, the company partnered with Italy's Leonardo to develop underwater drone technology, and also partnered with Remazel and W-Sense.
Tom Kington is Defense News' Italy correspondent.
