01/04/2026
The R/V “Gaia Blu” approached the Port of Livorno hosting the research team of PEACE (ProgressivE Autonomous researCh vessel Evolution) project. The team included scientists and technicians from the National Inter-University Consortium for Telecommunications (CNIT) Laboratory at the Port of Livorno and the Institute of Marine Engineering of the National Research Council (CNR-INM).
With PEACE project, R/V “Gaia Blu” will serve as Italian national maritime technology platform for testing telecommunications technologies, command and control logic and artificial intelligence modules. These activities will support the upcoming International Maritime Organization (IMO) Experience Building Phase, set to begin on May 2026, following the expected approval of the voluntary version of the Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS) Code at MSC 111.
Specifically, PEACE will develop an advanced research vessel equipped with innovative communication systems, onboard sensors, and remote-control capabilities, paving the way for autonomous and digitally connected shipping.
Over the next few years, during the IMO MASS Code review process, which will conclude in 2032 with the release of the final mandatory version of the IMO MASS Code, the research team activities will continue on board the R/V "Gaia Blu" with continuous involvement of the Italian Coast Guard, primarily for the purpose of validating logic, technologies and regulations, as well as contributing to the dissemination of the culture and concepts of autonomous maritime navigation within the national and international maritime ecosystem.
The multidisciplinary research team has capitalized his wide range of skills developed over the years in the field of Autonomous Navigation in numerous projects including:
- I-MASTER (Italian-Maritime-Autonomous-Surface-ship-TEst-Range, https://navisp.esa.int/project/details/270/show)
- 5G MASS (5G-assisted Maritime Autonomous Surface Ship, https://business.esa.int/projects/5g-mass)
- LEMATI (Lowering Emission for MAritime Transportation in Italy)
which served as knowledge basis to design and realize all the operational activities aboard the R/V "Gaia Blu."
This first experience aboard R/V “Gaia Blu” is an important step toward the development of smarter ship and more digital port services, as well as safer and more efficient navigation. High level representatives from the Italian Coast Guard visited Gaia Blu shortly before its departure from Naples, meeting the crew, the scientific team, and the shipowner (Argo), reflecting the strong national interest in the PEACE project and the role of R/V Gaia Blu as a strategic Italian asset that will operate across all major Italian ports with the aim to design, test and improve the shore-based technological infrastructures deemed necessary to manage in the imminent future the MASS>1 ships which are expected to approach our national ports soon.
In the medium to long term, PEACE is set to generate far-reaching social benefits by actively fostering a shared understanding and acceptance of Maritime Autonomy across the national maritime community. Through the joint efforts of CNR-INM and CNIT researchers and technicians, these transformative concepts will become increasingly accessible and tangible to stakeholders, institutions, and the broader public, encouraging a culture of innovation and trust in emerging technologies.
At the same time, the project will act as a catalyst for human capital development, nurturing a new generation of highly specialized professionals and enabling the creation of forward-looking career paths such as remote vessel pilots and operators within Remote Operation Centres. By strengthening multidisciplinary collaboration and continuously upgrading skills, PEACE will reinforce Italy’s technological leadership enhancing the resilience and global competitiveness of its port, logistics, and maritime sectors, ultimately delivering tangible societal value in terms of safety, sustainability and economic growth.
Per informazioni:
Ivan Santic
Research Engineer at Cnr-Inm
Alexandr Tardo, Senior Researcher at Consorzio Nazionale Interuniversitario per le Telecomunicazioni, email: alexandr.tardo@cnit.it
ivan.santic@cnr.it
Responsabile Unità Ufficio stampa:
Emanuele Guerrini
emanuele.guerrini@cnr.it
ufficiostampa@cnr.it
06 4993 3383