Genoa, October 9, 2025 – The Olterra ship, the new submarine rescue and underwater operations unit destined to enter service in the Marina Militare by 2027, replacing the now historic Nave Anteo, which has served the Armed Forces for over forty years, was launched at the T. Mariotti shipyards in Genoa.
The ceremony was attended by the president of the Liguria Region Marco Bucci, the president of the shipyard Marco Bisagno, the CEO Marco Ghiglione, and Admiral Salvatore Vitiello, commander of the Comando Logistico della Marina Militare, representing the Ministry of Defense. The event celebrated an important milestone for the national shipbuilding industry, marking Mariotti's debut in the military sector after decades of success in building cruise ships and luxury yachts.
Technology and Operational Capabilities
The Olterra Ship is part of the SDO-SuRS (Special and Diving Operations – Submarine Rescue Ship) program, aimed at renewing Italy's submarine intervention and support capabilities. With a length of 128 meters and a width of 24 meters, the unit can accommodate up to 200 people including crew and specialized operators.
Designed to operate in direct support of COMSUBIN (Comando Subacquei e Incursori “Teseo Tesei”), Olterra will be able to carry out missions of rescue to distressed submarines, underwater search and recovery activities, and protection of strategic underwater infrastructures.
The ship is equipped with integrated electric propulsion (IFEP) and dynamic positioning system DP3, which allow millimetric precision in maneuvers and operational stability even in adverse marine conditions. These features make it a highly versatile platform for operations in complex environments, with high safety and autonomy standards.
A Renewed Legacy
The new unit will replace Nave Anteo, which entered service in the 1980s and was employed in hundreds of recovery and technical support missions. With Olterra, the Marina Militare makes a decisive generational leap, introducing digital command and control systems, modular underwater laboratories, and integration capabilities with autonomous vehicles (ROV and AUV).
Construction began in 2023 with the hull being laid in San Giorgio di Nogaro, later transferred by sea to Genoa in 2024 for outfitting and system integration. After the launch, the ship will now enter the testing and sea trials phase, with delivery expected by 2027.
A Strategic Project for Italy
Beyond its technological value, the realization of Olterra has a clear strategic and industrial significance. The ship strengthens the country's ability to ensure underwater security in the Mediterranean and consolidates cooperation between industry and Defense, confirming the excellence of Italian shipbuilding.
The program also represents a fundamental piece in the modernization of the logistic and technical support fleet of the Marina Militare, in line with the renewal process initiated in recent years.
As highlighted by CEO Ghiglione, “Mariotti enters a new production segment with pride and a sense of responsibility, bringing our experience in advanced naval engineering to the military world.”
With the launch of the Olterra Ship, the Marina Militare and the COMSUBIN are equipped with a modern, modular, and interoperable tool, capable of responding to the operational challenges of the 21st century in a domain – the underwater one – increasingly strategic and competitive.
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