TRIESTE – Fincantieri, through its subsidiary IDS (Ingegneria dei Sistemi), and Next Geosolutions Europe S.p.A. have signed a memorandum of understanding to launch a partnership for the development of Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USV) and related technologies for civil applications in the Oil & Gas and renewable energy sectors.
The agreement brings together IDS’s technological expertise and Next Geosolutions’ operational experience with the goal of designing new USV platforms optimized for open-sea operations, environmental monitoring, inspection and maintenance of offshore infrastructure. The collaboration focuses on the evolution of the SAND (Surface Advanced Naval Drone) project, developed by IDS, and on creating a new model of autonomous vehicle tailored to the needs of major offshore market operators.
The next-generation vehicles, integrating advanced automation and energy systems, will be used directly by Next Geosolutions and later marketed internationally. The objective is to increase autonomy, safety, and performance in maritime operations, opening up new prospects for industrial development. Joint working groups will define the most effective solutions to make offshore activities more flexible and sustainable. The USVs will also be able to operate in synergy with traditional vessels through dedicated launch and recovery systems, thus enhancing productivity and mission safety. A customized vehicle version is also envisaged, featuring modular components and specific payloads for marine survey operations.
«This agreement is further confirmation of the tangible progress we are making to integrate existing technologies in both civil and military sectors, with the goal of providing comprehensive solutions in the underwater domain to meet the needs of leading offshore operators in the Oil & Gas and marine renewable energy industries. Thanks to the system engineering capabilities of our subsidiary IDS, we are positioning ourselves as the hub for aggregation, integration and acceleration of the key competencies required to develop the new underwater industry,» said Pierroberto Folgiero, CEO and General Manager of Fincantieri.
«This collaboration with IDS marks another step forward in our journey toward innovation and sustainability in offshore operations. We firmly believe that the integration of USV systems can deliver a real competitive advantage in terms of operational efficiency, cost reduction, and minimization of environmental impact,» added Giovanni Ranieri, CEO of NextGeo.