Page 32: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (July 2015)

COUNTRY REPORT

Maritime & Shipbuilding

Italian StyleItalian Style

By Joseph R. Fonseca ith its coastline of 7,800 logical Equipment placed at 2.2 billion this around 10% is said to be dedicated for remote-controlled boats-drones, deep km, Italy is expediently Euro. Italy is also a world leader in yacht to R&D of new technologies. water hulls and submarine drones. In nestled in the heart of the production with more than 49% of the Most Italian companies that operate in the area of marine sciences, research is

WMediterranean Sea with market share. the ocean technology ? eld are involved focused on sustainable ? shery and deep the surrounding waters creating a tre- There is a high level of investments in developing speci? c technologies and sea ? oor investigation to study earth- mendous resource for Italian economy. (of around 550 million Euro) in projects undertake numerous research projects. quakes and exploit the subsoil (OGS).

Businesses linked to the sea, includ- and strong links between manufacturers, R&D in marine technology is said to The fact that there are few large com- ing ocean technology ? rms, contribute research bodies and institutions together have generated 2,148 patents and indus- panies as is evident in several other sec- signi? cantly to Italy’s gross domestic with high quality research in marine sci- trial designs since 1989; 46% of which tors in Italy, many SME’s have joined product totaling more than $40 billion ence, new materials, systems and defence are related to ships and/or other vessels forces to create clusters and make better and representing 2.6% of total GDP. The and security which is one reason for the and navigation devices, 27% on propul- use of their expertise and capacity in the ocean technology industry of Italy sig- country continuing to maintain its lead- sion or guides for boats, and 22% on ? eld of ocean technologies.

ni? cantly comprises of: ing position as a ship builder. Fincantieri launching, hauling dry, ? oating docks The eleven outstanding clusters that • Ship and Boat Building Spa, D’Apollonia, Rodriguez Spa, Fer- or ships, rescue at sea, equipment to sit represent the core of national production • Technological Equipment retti Yachts, Azimut-Benetti, Leopard on or work under water and to retrieve have to a large extent received support • Maritime Defense and Security Yachts and FIPA Group are some build- or search for submerged objects. R&D and assistance by a body/agency recog- • Marine Science and Observation ers who are established undisputed lead- continues to register high performance nized by the Italian Government to coor- • Offshore Renewable Energy ers in the world of shipping and marine securing a 6% growth rate in the number dinate activities. • Marine Technologies defense. of industry patents. Currently, Italy has no active offshore

The Italian shipyard industry ranks Italy’s worldwide trade touched 14.4 Italian companies have created a name wind farms even though there is a com- among the top 20 in the world with ship billion Euro in 2012 backed by approxi- for themselves in the ? eld of Maritime pelling need of ? nding power supplies building and boat-building accounting mately 8,700 Italian companies with a Defense and Security, having made sig- other than oil imported from abroad. for 64% of the industry turnover, total- workforce of 55,000 employees operat- ni? cant progress in radar systems and Having rejected the nuclear solution af- ing 6.3 billion Euro in 2012, and Techno- ing in this marine technology sector. Of in the development of new technologies ter the Fukushima accident and the 2010 32 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News • JULY 2015

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