The “underwater” is increasingly a key domain in geopolitical hegemonies. The topic at the center of a conference organized in Rome by the Registro Italiano Navale and Teha Group
The meeting “The development of underwater activities and installations” was held today at the Grand Hotel Parco dei Principi in Rome, organized by the Registro Italiano Navale – a private non-profit organization and founding member of Rina, a multinational certification and classification company – in collaboration with TEHA Group (The European House – Ambrosetti), a leader in consulting and scenario development and since 2013 the first private Think Tank in Italy and the fourth in Europe.
The subject of the meeting was underwater – underwater technologies – now recognized as a key domain for ensuring information security and energy supply. The underwater sector is a rapidly expanding field, requiring increasingly advanced technologies and specialized skills, and encompassing a wide range of applications: from the laying and management of submarine cables to marine mining.
Data cables transmit information via optical fibers. It is estimated that 99% of intercontinental computer data travels via submarine cables. This includes web traffic, telephony, video content, as well as trillions of dollars in financial transactions. Currently, over 1.48 million kilometers of submarine cables (almost four times the distance from the earth to the moon) are in service on the seabeds worldwide.
The market for submarine power cables is also expanding rapidly, with new records in the number of kilometers laid each year. According to Spinergie, 1,900 km of power cables were laid worldwide in 2020, and it is projected that 18,000 km will be installed in 2028 alone. The growth is driven both by the increase in global energy demand – also accelerated by the spread of artificial intelligence – and by the expansion of offshore renewables, which require an ever-increasing number of cables to bring the generated energy ashore.
Another equally significant front is the extraction of strategic minerals from the seabed, which are increasingly scarce on land. Among the most sought-after minerals are nickel, copper, cobalt, manganese, zinc, silver, and gold: “critical” minerals essential for both the digital transition, for example in the production of smartphones and laptops, and for the energy transition, such as in the manufacture of wind turbines and electric vehicles. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), by 2040 the world will need twice as many of these metals as today to meet the energy transition goals.
Paolo d’Amico, President of the Registro Italiano Navale, stated: «The underwater is no longer a niche area but a strategic space where some of the most advanced technological challenges of our time are concentrated. The deep sea is becoming a competitive environment where a fundamental part of innovation is taking place.
Investing in underwater technologies means stimulating new skills, fostering the growth of industrial sectors and ensuring the country a prominent role in the international landscape of the coming decades.
Ugo Salerno, Executive President of RINA, stated: «Underwater is one of the new strategic frontiers of our time: a domain in which technology, safety and knowledge of the marine environment play a decisive role. Today, a country’s security is increasingly dependent on its submarine connections: practically all information flows under the sea and this requires countries and companies in the sector to develop adequate systems to monitor and protect the cables to prevent possible attacks. Monitoring what happens below the surface means protecting critical infrastructure, ensuring the reliability of global networks and developing new industrial and scientific opportunities capable of strengthening the country’s competitiveness in an ever-evolving international context».
“The development of underwater activities and installations”, moderated by Roberta Amoruso – journalist for Il Messaggero -, featured as speakers, Paolo d’Amico – President of the Registro Italiano Navale -, Lucio Caracciolo – Director of Limes -, Enrico Colantoni – Head of naval and underwater programs at Elettronica -, Carlo Luzzatto – Chief Executive Officer and General Manager of RINA -, Francesco Milazzo – Head of the 5th Submarine Department and Underwater Dimension of the Navy General Staff -, Alessandro Puliti – Chief Executive Officer and General Manager of Saipem -, Pierpaolo Ribuffo – Head of the Department for Sea Policies of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers -, Francesco Salerni – Director of Strategy, Digital and Sustainability at Terna – and Ugo Salerno – Executive President of RINA -.
This event is part of a series of meetings organized by the Registro Italiano Navale on the occasion of its Steering Council. The meetings, which aim to stimulate an in-depth discussion on topics of interest for the future of businesses and society in Italy and the world, will continue next year.
