Genoa – The T.Mariotti shipyard celebrated the launch of the ship Olterra in Genoa, the first unit of the SDO–SuRS program (Special and Diving Operations – Submarine Rescue Ship), destined for the Navy. This is the first military project realized by T. Mariotti.
The new unit bears the name “Olterra” and the motto “Per Atra Aequora Fulgor”, a reference to the light that guides innovation even in the most unexplored depths of the sea.
The ceremony was attended by representatives of the Navy, national and local institutions, including the Governor of Liguria Marco Bucci and the Mayor of Genoa Silvia Salis, together with the management of T. Mariotti and the Genova Industrie Navali (Gin) group.
For the occasion, the shipyard’s spaces were transformed into a widespread ceremonial path, involving structures, people, and docks. A tensile structure set up on a barge hosted the official ceremony, while along the dock, representatives of the Navy, the shipyard, and the workforce lined up, testifying to the choral work that made the ship’s construction possible.
On the aft deck of the Olterra, the personnel of the Genoese shipyard participated in the launch moment, symbolically united with their creation. The choice to organize the event facing the water basin, with the ship already in its definitive appearance and moored at the dock, allowed it to be admired in all its grandeur. At sunset, the projection of an emotional video on the side of the Olterra, brought to life by a suggestive video mapping, celebrated the conclusion of the ceremony.
“The ship Olterra is a disruptive project for the underwater domain, the set of technologies and operational capabilities related to underwater and submarine activities that today represent a strategic frontier for security and defense,” states a note from the shipyard. “The result of the collaboration between T. Mariotti and a national industrial ecosystem of excellence, the unit is conceived for the rescue of distressed submarines, support for special underwater operations, and the protection of critical submarine infrastructures in the Mediterranean and beyond.”
With a length of 128 meters and a width of 24 meters, the new unit adopts an Integrated Full Electric Propulsion (IFEP) system and a state-of-the-art DP3 dynamic positioning system, which allow it to operate with maximum precision even in adverse sea weather conditions. The ship can accommodate up to 200 people, including crew and Comsubin operators, guaranteeing continuous and modular operational capabilities in different scenarios. Due to its construction complexity and operational characteristics, Olterra represents a unique ship in its kind, consistent with the ongoing expansion of the Navy’s submarine fleet, but also capable of operating in dual-use contexts, ensuring underwater activities for other administrations and entities for the surveillance and protection of the country’s submarine infrastructures.
Laid down in April 2023 and transferred to Genoa in September 2024 for final outfitting, Olterra will now proceed with the integration and testing phases, with delivery expected in 2027.
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