Keel laid at the Piombino shipyards
With the symbolic gesture of placing coins beneath the keel—a centuries-old tradition meant to bring good fortune to the ship’s voyages—the construction of the new oceanographic vessel Arcadia has begun at the PIM shipyards (Piombino Industrie Marittime). The vessel is destined for the Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA).
About 70 meters long and equipped with cutting-edge technology, Arcadia will serve as a scientific platform dedicated to the study and protection of the marine environment.
Thanks to the presence of autonomous underwater vehicles (ROVs) capable of operating at depths of up to 4,000 meters, modular laboratories, and areas designed for monitoring, mapping, and research missions on marine and coastal ecosystems, the vessel will contribute to expanding knowledge of the deep sea and to safeguarding biodiversity.
The project is part of the PNRR MER – Mission 2 “Green Revolution and Ecological Transition,” the national program dedicated to the protection of the sea and the strengthening of environmental research.
For ISPRA, this represents a strategic investment that places science and knowledge at the service of the country, enhancing its ability to observe, understand, and protect the Mediterranean in the context of climate change and ecological transition.