Annual Report 2019
I S T I T U T O I D R O G R A F I C O D E L L A M A R I N A
Genoa 2020
IstItuto IdroGrafIco della MarIna
ANNUAL REPORT
2019
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Stampato dall’Istituto Idrografico della Marina –
© copyright, IIM Genova 2020 Passo osservatorio, 4 - 16135 Genova
tel. 010 244 31 telefax: 010 261 400
Pec: maridrografico.genova@postacert.difesa.it PeI: maridrografico.genova@marina.difesa.it
www.marina.difesa.it
this document is copyright protected. no portion of this document may be used or reproduced or shared with third parties without the express prior written consent of the Istituto Idrografico della Marina.
Stampato dall’Istituto Idrografico della Marina –
Index
From the Director ...5
A year in pictures ...6
Focus on the three main events of the year ...13
Chapter 1 - Who we are and what we do Who we are...22
Italian hydrographic campaigns in the Red Sea and in the Indian Ocean ...26
Italian expeditions to the North Pole ...30
The cartographer’s work ...39
Satellite-Derived Bathymetry ...42
Chapter 2 - Research and Surveys A year of activity ...46
Hydrographic campaigns ...46
Geodetic campaigns ...47
Sailing Directions ...48
Remote Sensing ...48
MetOc support ...49
High North 19 ...51
Levante canyon mooring ...54
Survey vessels ...59
Chapter 3 - Production & Distribution Cartography ...72
Publications and trials ...79
Printing & Distribution ...79
Activity summary 2015-2019 ...83
Chapter 4 - Education and Training Courses ...86
Faculty ...87
Chapter 5 - EXTERNAL ACTIVITIES External Relations ...96
Library ...96
International Relations ...97
National Relations and Exhibitions ...98
National and international events ...101
IHO activities ...104
National and international activities ...105
Media relations...109
Publications ...109
The Director of the Istituto Idrografico della Marina, Rear-Admiral Luigi Sinapi
The Director of the Istituto Idrografico della Marina, Rear-Admiral Luigi Sinapi
From the Director...
2019 is a year to be proud of, in view of the numerous results achieved.
The nautical chart sector recorded an increase in production thanks to the adoption of the Teledyne CARIS Charting Suite, and a data-centric approach, in lieu of the systems which were traditionally used to process and validate nautical information. The speeding up of the process resulted in higher revenues, and a new record was set – the total income in 2019 was higher than in the previous three-year period (2016-2018) and twice the annual average of the decade 2006-2015.
Another noteworthy result was the completion of the first phase of the project for the digitization of IIM nautical publications.
Further, in 2019 the High North Research Program - launched in 2017 and coordinated by the Istituto Idrografico della Marina - was completed. The 2019 campaign, on board the Alliance, focused on the monitoring of the marine environment for short and long term variability, with experimental activities - satellite to background – using new technologies and multiplatform systems west of the Svalbard Islands.
The Istituto Idrografico della Marina was very active also as regards national and international collaborations in the fields of hydrography, cartography and research. The list includes, in chronological order: a new Bilateral Arrangement with the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office for the exchange of charts and data, an Agreement with the Parthenope University of Naples to improve educational and research activities in the field of hydrography and oceanography, the Protocole Technique entre l ‘Institut Hydrographique de la Marine Militaire Italienne et le Center d’Hydrographie et d’Oceanographie de la Marine Nationale Tunisienne for the development of joint activities in the sectors of hydrography, nautical cartography and oceanography and, finally, the Accordo di collaborazione per la costituzione della Joint Research Unit (JRU) European Multidisciplinary Seafloor and water-column Observatory (EMSO)-Italia, whose purpose is to coordinate research and development activities in the field of marine sciences, as an Italian contribution to the EMSO- ERIC (European Research Infrastructure Consortium).
As far as education and training are concerned, in September 2019 the 3rd edition of the Master’s Degree Course in Hydrography and Oceanography started with 20 students, 18 of whom from abroad.
The course, in collaboration with the University of Genoa, prepares attendees for the Certificate of Hydrographic Surveyor Category A by the IHO-FIG-ICA. In December 2019, two officers of the Italian Navy obtained the Master’s Degree.
IIM employees took part in many national and international conferences, and exchanged visits with foreign Hydrographic Offices. Among the promotional activities carried out in 2019, two events were most successful: an exhibition called La Marina Italiana al Polo Nord: dal Duca degli Abruzzi alle spedizioni High North in Genoa, Palazzo San Giorgio, organized and managed entirely by the IIM, and the 59th Genoa International Boat Show.
Last but not least, in December 2019, after amost twenty years of hiring freeze, the Istituto was finally able to hire 16 new technical assistants for cartography. It was a crucial step, which will help us keep our standards of quality to ensure safety of navigation in Italian waters.
Cooperation agreement signed with the UKHO 22 January 2019
“ANTARES XXVI” campaign in Antarctica 27 January, 2019
Press conference “Un mare di gioia, una scuola di vita” - 20 February 2019
Visit of a delegation from the Qatar Navy 25 February, 2019
Opening of the “Nautica” shop 26 January 2019
Visit of the Director of the
Istituto Geografico Militare (IGM) - 12 February 2019
3rd Conference on Marine Geology 21 February 2019
Visit of a delegation
from the Italian Parliament - 18 March 2019
Cooperation agreement signed with the UKHO 22 January 2019
“ANTARES XXVI” campaign in Antarctica 27 January, 2019
Press conference “Un mare di gioia, una scuola di vita” - 20 February 2019
Visit of a delegation from the Qatar Navy 25 February, 2019
Opening of the “Nautica” shop 26 January 2019
Visit of the Director of the
Istituto Geografico Militare (IGM) - 12 February 2019
3rd Conference on Marine Geology 21 February 2019
Visit of a delegation
from the Italian Parliament - 18 March 2019
Improving Maritime Transport Efficiency and Safety
in the Adriatic Conference - 29 March 2019 Opening of exhibition “La Marina Italiana al Polo Nord: dal Duca degli Abruzzi alle spedizioni High North” - April 2, 2019
Visit of the Plenipotentiary
Minister Carmine Robustelli - April 3, 2019 Signing of the Agreement with the
Parthenope University, Naples - April 5, 2019
International Arctic Forum “Arctic Territory of Dialogue” - 9.04.2019
Seminar on the High North program at Palazzo San Giorgio - April 17, 2019
Hydrographic activity on Lake Garda, 2nd year - 1 May 2019
“IANUS 2019” Project 5 May 2019
IHO Symposium on Ocean
Surveying and Protection - 20-21 June 2019 Festival del Mare
16 May 2019
Cooperation in Lebanon 17 May 2019
Visit of a US delegation May 28, 2019
IHO conferences in Genoa: CBSC-17 and IRCC-11 - 29 May 2019
Visit of a delegation from Chile
1st June 2019 Visit of a delegation from Indonesia
6 June 2019
Open Day 21 June 2019
IHO Symposium on Ocean
Surveying and Protection - 20-21 June 2019 Festival del Mare
16 May 2019
Cooperation in Lebanon 17 May 2019
Visit of a US delegation May 28, 2019
IHO conferences in Genoa: CBSC-17 and IRCC-11 - 29 May 2019
Visit of a delegation from Chile
1st June 2019 Visit of a delegation from Indonesia
6 June 2019
Open Day 21 June 2019
Signing of the cooperation agreement with Tunisia
27 June 2019 Visit of the Ambassador of South Korea
18 July 2019
Seminar on Blue Growth 26 July 2019
59th Boat Show 2019 September 19, 2019
Visit of a delegation from Malta
23 September 2019 “Metrology For The Sea”
3 October 2019
Visit of the Chief of Staff of the Navy
4 October 2019 Master’s Degree in Hydrography and
Oceanography, 3rd edition - 7 October 2019
Arctic Circle Assembly 2019 - Reykjavík,
10-12 October 2019 42nd Mediterranean Science Commission (CIESM)
11 October 2019
Conference on Antarctica at the Tor Vergata University, Rome – 16 October 2019
Visit of a delegation from Tunisia 30 October 2019
OM-Orientamenti 2019
12 November 2019 Visit of a delegation from Pakistan
3 November 2019
Geospatial products, course held for the Indonesian Navy - 11 November 2019
Training for Ocean Policy Making and Management November 16, 2019
Arctic Circle Assembly 2019 - Reykjavík,
10-12 October 2019 42nd Mediterranean Science Commission (CIESM)
11 October 2019
Conference on Antarctica at the Tor Vergata University, Rome – 16 October 2019
Visit of a delegation from Tunisia 30 October 2019
OM-Orientamenti 2019
12 November 2019 Visit of a delegation from Pakistan
3 November 2019
Geospatial products, course held for the Indonesian Navy - 11 November 2019
Training for Ocean Policy Making and Management November 16, 2019
Visit of a delegation from Spain
20 November 2019 Scoglio d’Affrica, 1st Workshop
25 November 2019
Visit of a delegation from Montenegro 4 December 2019
Surveys for Sailing Directions 9 December 2019
16 new technical assistants for cartography
and graphics - 16 December 2019 Master’s Degree in Hydrography and
Oceanography - 16 December 2019
Visits to Colombia, Ecuador and Uruguay 18 December 2019
Visit of the Commander in Chief
of the Lebanese Navy - 20 December 2019
Focus on the three main events of the year
Opening of the renovated Nautica Shop in the port of Genoa
the Istituto Idrografico della Marina’s shop in the historic setting of the Ponte dei Mille, near the Maritime station and the cruise terminals, was opened again on 26 January 2019. the navy chief of staff, admiral Valter Girardelli, was present, together with civilian and military local authorities.
In its almost 150 years of history, the Istituto has counted on generations of ligurian and Genoese professionals specialized in different skills, who contributed to the Italian charting tradition with great passion and competence.
the Nautica shop was completely renovated and transformed into a sort of flagship store for the Italian navy and the Istituto Idrografico della Marina. It is located in a strategic point, to make nautical documents easily accessible to users and cruisers and to host events, conferences, seminars, and presentations.
a small exhibition of historical memorabilia testifies the work of the Italian navy throughout the years to promote the knowledge of seas and oceans, to protect the marine environment and to ensure safety of navigation. It was precisely to this purpose that in the 19th century a number of hydrographic departments were created – in la spezia, naples, taranto, Brindisi, Venice, Messina and cagliari - with very specific tasks, in order to support the Istituto Idrografico della Marina throughout the national territory.
these hydrographic departments, among other tasks, were to support military and merchant ships in the updating of
Genova - Ponte dei Mille cruise terminal
The Mayor of Genova and the Italian Navy Chief of Staff cutting the ribbon
“Nautica”
shop charts
their charts and nautical publications, and to provide military vessels with new charts and nautical publications whenever they needed them, as well as spare parts and repair services for damaged equipment.
In other words, they supported and assisted the Istituto Idrografico della Marina in Genoa so as to provide better assistance to military and merchant units, especially
as regards the updating of nautical cartography, the correct functioning of chronometers, sextants, reflection circles, barometers, hygrometers, and other equipment, to ensure safe navigation.
today, only the departments in la spezia and in taranto are still operating, in addition to the nautica shop in Genoa.
“Nautica”
historic exhibits
The President of Regione Liguria and the Mayor of Genova at the opening
their charts and nautical publications, and to provide military vessels with new charts and nautical publications whenever they needed them, as well as spare parts and repair services for damaged equipment.
In other words, they supported and assisted the Istituto Idrografico della Marina in Genoa so as to provide better assistance to military and merchant units, especially
as regards the updating of nautical cartography, the correct functioning of chronometers, sextants, reflection circles, barometers, hygrometers, and other equipment, to ensure safe navigation.
today, only the departments in la spezia and in taranto are still operating, in addition to the nautica shop in Genoa.
“Nautica”
historic exhibits
The President of Regione Liguria and the Mayor of Genova at the opening
Exhibition “La Marina Italiana al Polo Nord: dal Duca degli Abruzzi alle spedizioni High North”
from april 2 to 30, the 16th century sala delle compere of Palazzo san Giorgio, (head office of the Port authority) in the beutiful setting of the Porto antico in Genoa, hosted the exhibition La Marina Italiana al Polo Nord: dal Duca degli Abruzzi alle spedizioni High North, curated, set up and managed by the Istituto Idrografico, with the support of the navy exhibition team of la spezia.
the exhibition was sponsored by regione liguria, comune di Genova, soprintendenza archeologia Belle arti e Paesaggio and autorità di sistema Portuale del Mar ligure occidentale.
at the opening ceremony many civilian and military authorities were present, including the Plenipotentiary Minister dr.
carmine robustelli, head of the Italian delegation in the arctic council and coordinator of the national arctic table of the Ministry of foreign affairs, the President of regione liguria, dr. Giovanni toti, the Mayor of Genoa, dr. Marco Bucci, and the President of the Port authority, dr.
Paolo emilio signorini.
the exhibition celebrated the role of the navy in the most important Italian expeditions to the north Pole – the 1899- 1900 expedition led by Prince luigi amedeo, duke of the abruzzi, the 1926 expedition on board airship Norge by umberto nobile, the 1928 expedition led by umberto nobile with airship Italia and the Città di Milano, and the High north research Program 2017-2019. exhibits included memorabilia, books, equipment, models, photos and objects from twelve institutions and museums.
a seminar on 17 april was dedicated to the High north research program, with professionals from various universities, institutes and research centers.
Polo Nord
La Marina Italiana al
DAL DUCA DEGLI ABRUZZI ALLE SPEDIZIONI HIGH NORTH
Sala delle Compere - Palazzo San Giorgio Dal 2 al 30 aprile 2019
Orari: dal lunedì al venerdì 10-18; sabato 10-13 Chiuso la domenica e il 22 aprile INGRESSO LIBERO
Entering the exhibition,
Sala delle Compere, Palazzo San Giorgio
In nineteen working days (10:00 to 18:00) and four saturdays (10:00 to 13:00) over 5,000 people visited the exhibition, including numerous schools, organized groups and families with children. Guided tours were available. the highest number of visitors was recorded in the week after easter (april 23-27), and in particular on april 25: 911 visitors.
the daily average was around 200
visitors, testifying the interest raised by the exhibition and its itinerary, designed by the curator, dr. aldo caterino, from the IIM external relations office, and by architects Matteo frulio and emanuele Musso, with the support of Prof. Ivaldi and commander demarte. the Guest Book, containing visitors’ notes and opinions, is full of praise and suggestions for future initiatives.
A reconstruction of the pack
Opening High North 17
In nineteen working days (10:00 to 18:00) and four saturdays (10:00 to 13:00) over 5,000 people visited the exhibition, including numerous schools, organized groups and families with children. Guided tours were available. the highest number of visitors was recorded in the week after easter (april 23-27), and in particular on april 25: 911 visitors.
the daily average was around 200
visitors, testifying the interest raised by the exhibition and its itinerary, designed by the curator, dr. aldo caterino, from the IIM external relations office, and by architects Matteo frulio and emanuele Musso, with the support of Prof. Ivaldi and commander demarte. the Guest Book, containing visitors’ notes and opinions, is full of praise and suggestions for future initiatives.
A reconstruction of the pack
Opening High North 17
Genoa as the capital of world hydrography for a week with two important IHO forums: the 17th Capacity Building Sub Committee and the 11th Inter-Regional Coordination Committee
from 29 to 31 May 2019, the 17th meeting of the IHo capacity Building sub- committee (cBsc-17) was held in Genoa.
the IHo, International Hydrographic organization, based in Monaco, has been operating since 1919 to coordinate and standardize hydro-oceanographic surveys and charting, to improve safety of navigation and ocean knowledge worldwide.
cBsc-17 focused on the support needed by countries still without hydro- oceanographic autonomy, in order to help them develop a national hydrographic office in compliance with IHo standards.
It was a sort of introduction for the larger 11th IHo Inter-regional coordination committee (Ircc-11), where chairs of the regional Hydrographic commissions (rHc) and representatives of sub- commissions and working groups met to discuss hydro-oceanography, nautical cartography and capacity building issues.
opened on June 3 by the Italin navy chief of staff, admiral Paolo treu, Ircc-11 saw
Participants to the 17th
Capacity Building Sub Committee (CBSC)
The Director of the Istituto Idrografico meets IRCC participants
11° Inter-Regional Coordination Committee (IRCC)
Opening of the IRCC by the Italian Navy Vice-chief of Staff
11° Inter-Regional Coordination Committee (IRCC)
Opening of the IRCC by the Italian Navy Vice-chief of Staff
the participation of over 25 delegations from all over the world.
the object of Ircc is to establish, improve and coordinate activities between individual states on a regional basis and between different regions of the world on a global scale, to improve efficiency. data sharing and international cooperation are crucial in the maritime sector, to ensure safety of navigation and because oceans have an extraordinary impact on
everyday life from many points of view - environment, climate, food and trade. that is why the 21st century has been called the “blue century”.
the two meetings - planned, organized and managed entirely by the IIM - were a success, as attested by the delegations and by the IHo itself, who appreciated the efficiency, elegance and warmth of IIM’s hospitality.
A view of the port of Genova from the top floor of Grand Hotel Savoia
annual report 2019
Chap ter
Who we are and what we do
1
Who we are and what we do
The Istituto Idrografico della Marina (IIM) was founded in 1872 and is based in Genoa, in the 16th century Fortress of San Giorgio. As the Italian Charting Agency, the IIM is in charge of the national hydrographic service and the production of all official nautical documents relating to Italian seas - over 550,000 square kilometers of waters and over 7,800 kilometers of coastline. It is an area of great strategic interest, located in the centre of the Mediterranean Sea and crossed by the main international sea routes that connect Western Europe with the Middle and Far East.
It is the IIM’s task to contribute to safety of navigation and to national security and to improve and enhance sea-related knowledge from a technical, scientific, environmental and cultural point of view.
The tasks and functions of the Istituto Idrografico della Marina are detailed in Italian Presidential Decree 90/2010, Chapter V, art. 222:
» to provide the Armed Forces with the necessary hydro-meteorological- oceanographic support;
» to contribute to safety of navigation and the protection of human life at sea by issuing and updating official nautical documents relevant to Italian waters, according to SOLAS 1969;
» to draw up the technical specifications and standards for the correct execution of hydrographic surveys;
» to create a database of all hydro- oceanographic data from the surveys carried out in Italian waters by the IIM and by other public and private bodies;
Updating Sailing Directions
The hydroboat of of the Ammiraglio Magnaghi survey vessel during a coastal survey
Bottom sampling from
the Ammiraglio Magnaghi survey vesseli
Who we are and what we do
The Istituto Idrografico della Marina (IIM) was founded in 1872 and is based in Genoa, in the 16th century Fortress of San Giorgio. As the Italian Charting Agency, the IIM is in charge of the national hydrographic service and the production of all official nautical documents relating to Italian seas - over 550,000 square kilometers of waters and over 7,800 kilometers of coastline. It is an area of great strategic interest, located in the centre of the Mediterranean Sea and crossed by the main international sea routes that connect Western Europe with the Middle and Far East.
It is the IIM’s task to contribute to safety of navigation and to national security and to improve and enhance sea-related knowledge from a technical, scientific, environmental and cultural point of view.
The tasks and functions of the Istituto Idrografico della Marina are detailed in Italian Presidential Decree 90/2010, Chapter V, art. 222:
» to provide the Armed Forces with the necessary hydro-meteorological- oceanographic support;
» to contribute to safety of navigation and the protection of human life at sea by issuing and updating official nautical documents relevant to Italian waters, according to SOLAS 1969;
» to draw up the technical specifications and standards for the correct execution of hydrographic surveys;
» to create a database of all hydro- oceanographic data from the surveys carried out in Italian waters by the IIM and by other public and private bodies;
Updating Sailing Directions
The hydroboat of of the Ammiraglio Magnaghi survey vessel during a coastal survey
Bottom sampling from
the Ammiraglio Magnaghi survey vesseli
» to manage and update a database of historic and non-historic wrecks in Italian waters, with the help of other public and private entities;
» to train hydrographers and oceanographers through suitable courses open to university students and foreign citizens;
» to certify the status of “hydrographer” to those military and civilian students who complete the required training process;
» to contribute to the didactics in training centres in the field of hydrography and oceanography;
» to take part in the activities of the International Hydrographic Organization - IHO;
» to set the standards for hydrographic surveys executed by non-Defense entities.
To comply with the tasks set forth by the law, the IIM plans and carries out hydrographic and topographical surveys as well as tidal measurements in order to build and update charts and nautical publications, trains military and civilian hydrographers, and carries out research activities for the protection of the marine environment and sustainable growth.
The IIM operates in the following four sectors:
» surveying and hydro-oceanographic research (in Italian waters, in the Mediterranean sea, in the Arctic Ocean and in Antarctica);
» drafting technical standards for safety of navigation;
» issuing official nautical charts and documents and relevant updating;
Water sampling with a rosette of Niskin bottles
Lecturing future hydrographers Recover of a rosette of Niskin bottle.
» training hydrographers (military and civilian, Italian and from other countries, within capacity building projects).
To manage the manifold activities in the fields of research, training, data collection, production, distribution, communication and international commitments, the Istituto Idrografico della Marina can count on just over 220 military and civilian employees.
Dramatically understaffed, with an ever-increasing number of specialized personnel retiring every year and a national hiring freeze in the Public Administration, the IIM was at risk of being unable to fulfill their institutional duties. In December 2019, however, 16 new technical assistants for cartography and graphics were finally hired, after the selection procedure started in January 2018.
The Director of the Istituto Idrografico
meets the newly hired cartographers in Sala Consiglio
» training hydrographers (military and civilian, Italian and from other countries, within capacity building projects).
To manage the manifold activities in the fields of research, training, data collection, production, distribution, communication and international commitments, the Istituto Idrografico della Marina can count on just over 220 military and civilian employees.
Dramatically understaffed, with an ever-increasing number of specialized personnel retiring every year and a national hiring freeze in the Public Administration, the IIM was at risk of being unable to fulfill their institutional duties. In December 2019, however, 16 new technical assistants for cartography and graphics were finally hired, after the selection procedure started in January 2018.
The Director of the Istituto Idrografico
meets the newly hired cartographers in Sala Consiglio
The IIM 2019 organization chart
A bit of history
Italian hydrographic campaigns in the Red Sea and in the Indian Ocean
In the 1860s railways and steamers were in full development and natural obstacles on their way were removed with titanic engineering works. In Italy, the Frejus and San Gottardo tunnels in the Alps were opened in 1871 and 1882. On November 17, 1869, in the presence of the world’s highest authorities, the Suez Canal was officially inaugurated. The Suez Canal connected the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea through the Isthmus of Suez, providing for a more direct route to India (strategic for the British Empire), Indonesia (strategic for the Kingdom of the Netherlands), China and Japan.
The Italian contribution
Two days before the inauguration of the Suez Canal, Giuseppe Sapeto - missionary, explorer and agent for the Italian government - purchased from sultan brothers Ibrahim and Hassan ben Ahmad a small plot of land (about six kilometer long) between Mount Ganga and Cape Lumah, on the coast of Eritrea, for the sum of 6,000 thalers. Although Sapeto had been mandated by the Italian government, the contract was in the name of Rubattino, a company based in Genoa, to avoid possible negative reactions from other European powers interested in the Red Sea, in particular France. The idea was to make it a staging and refueling station for coal, water and supplies for steamers heading to the Indies. Only in 1882 did the bay of Assab officially pass to the Kingdom of Italy, after France occupied Tunisia in 1881.
The existing nautical charts were deemed insufficient to guarantee safety of navigation in the Red Sea and in the Indian
Geodetic survey along the coasts of Eritrea, 1910, Genova, Istituto Idrografico della Marina
Cesare Vimercati, Panorama del Basso Egitto - Canale Artificiale di Suez, Firenze, Litografia Toscana, 1869, private collection
A view of the Bay of Assab with an Italian vessel in the background, Parigi, 1870, Roma, Museo Africano
A bit of history
Italian hydrographic campaigns in the Red Sea and in the Indian Ocean
In the 1860s railways and steamers were in full development and natural obstacles on their way were removed with titanic engineering works. In Italy, the Frejus and San Gottardo tunnels in the Alps were opened in 1871 and 1882. On November 17, 1869, in the presence of the world’s highest authorities, the Suez Canal was officially inaugurated. The Suez Canal connected the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea through the Isthmus of Suez, providing for a more direct route to India (strategic for the British Empire), Indonesia (strategic for the Kingdom of the Netherlands), China and Japan.
The Italian contribution
Two days before the inauguration of the Suez Canal, Giuseppe Sapeto - missionary, explorer and agent for the Italian government - purchased from sultan brothers Ibrahim and Hassan ben Ahmad a small plot of land (about six kilometer long) between Mount Ganga and Cape Lumah, on the coast of Eritrea, for the sum of 6,000 thalers. Although Sapeto had been mandated by the Italian government, the contract was in the name of Rubattino, a company based in Genoa, to avoid possible negative reactions from other European powers interested in the Red Sea, in particular France. The idea was to make it a staging and refueling station for coal, water and supplies for steamers heading to the Indies. Only in 1882 did the bay of Assab officially pass to the Kingdom of Italy, after France occupied Tunisia in 1881.
The existing nautical charts were deemed insufficient to guarantee safety of navigation in the Red Sea and in the Indian
Geodetic survey along the coasts of Eritrea, 1910, Genova, Istituto Idrografico della Marina
Cesare Vimercati, Panorama del Basso Egitto - Canale Artificiale di Suez, Firenze, Litografia Toscana, 1869, private collection
A view of the Bay of Assab with an Italian vessel in the background, Parigi, 1870, Roma, Museo Africano
Ocean from the very beginning, as they were outdated and their coverage was only partial. The Istituto Idrografico della Regia Marina was thus asked to undertake long and extensive hydrographic, geodetic and topographic surveys. Hydrographers and surveyors operated in extreme weather and in dangerous conditions, surrounded by the hostility of the local population. Their work has become a valuable heritage from the historical, geographical and cultural point of view.
The first campaigns
They started with the triangulation of the bay of Assab. Having completed the topographical survey, they proceeded with the hydrographical survey and they determined latitude, longitude and magnetic declination. The hydrographic survey of the port of Massaua and surrounding areas, characterized by sand banks and submerged rocks, started in 1886.
In 1898, when Italy declared their interest in the stretch of Somali coast from the Gulf of Aden to the mouth of the Juba River (the rest was in the hands of the British), all military units in the area contributed to the study and survey of the area. The Royal Staffetta carried out an outstanding job in the 1898-1899 campaign, as the area was particularly quiet at the time. Surveys of anchorages and astronomical determinations were used by the Istituto Idrografico to issue updated charts, replacing the outdated French and English charts built in the early 19th century.
A decade later, the Staffetta surveyed over 390 kilometers of coastline and 30 kilometers of the river Juba, with four complete astronomical stations (latitude, longitude and azimuth), eight azimuth determinations, 241 geodetic stations, 406
Guido Cora, Carta originale del paese degli Afar o Danakil e regioni limitrofe, Torino, 1885, private collection
Stocking building materials in Massaua, 1892, Il Telegrafo a Vapore
The Staffetta, used by the Italian Royal Navy for many hydro-ocea- nographic surveys in the Red Sea and in the Indian Ocean, 1899, Roma, Ufficio Storico della Marina Militare
topographic stations, three tidal stations and seven magnetic stations, resulting in two 1:250,000 scale charts. Surveys were carried out in 1910-1911 in Massaua and Mogadishu, resulting in thorough mapping of the seabed up to 20 miles off the coast and updated coastal charts.
The Twenties
During the Great War all scientific activities were suspended. In the spring of 1923, however, the direction of the Istituto Idrografico suggested that hydrographic research in Eritrea be continued and the Ministry of the Navy invited the Italian Thalassographic Committee to take part in the campaign, carrying out biological and oceanographic research while hydrographers surveyed the waters from Italian Royal Vessel Ammiraglio Magnaghi.
The campaign began in Port Said on October 3 and ended on June 7, 1924.
In 1928 the Ammiraglio Magnaghi was used to carry out hydrographic surveys in the archipelago of Dahlak, separated from the mainland by the Massaua channel, consisting of 126 islands. Hydrographic surveys in Eritrea and Somalia had been partial and piecemeal and needed to be jointed together to cover the whole area under Italian jurisdiction. Topographic surveys needed to be completed, too. The idea of carrying out extensive surveys in the Red Sea and in the Indian Ocean was beginning to take shape, and the survey vessel was sent to identify the areas where to start.
Touring Club Italiano, Carta della città e del porto di Massaua, 1:15.000 scale chart, Milano, A. Vallardi, 1929, private collection
Surveying from the Staffetta in the Red Sea, 1910, Genova, Istituto Idrografico della Marina
Topographic survey near the Red Sea, 1928, Roma, Ufficio Storico della Marina Militare
topographic stations, three tidal stations and seven magnetic stations, resulting in two 1:250,000 scale charts. Surveys were carried out in 1910-1911 in Massaua and Mogadishu, resulting in thorough mapping of the seabed up to 20 miles off the coast and updated coastal charts.
The Twenties
During the Great War all scientific activities were suspended. In the spring of 1923, however, the direction of the Istituto Idrografico suggested that hydrographic research in Eritrea be continued and the Ministry of the Navy invited the Italian Thalassographic Committee to take part in the campaign, carrying out biological and oceanographic research while hydrographers surveyed the waters from Italian Royal Vessel Ammiraglio Magnaghi.
The campaign began in Port Said on October 3 and ended on June 7, 1924.
In 1928 the Ammiraglio Magnaghi was used to carry out hydrographic surveys in the archipelago of Dahlak, separated from the mainland by the Massaua channel, consisting of 126 islands. Hydrographic surveys in Eritrea and Somalia had been partial and piecemeal and needed to be jointed together to cover the whole area under Italian jurisdiction. Topographic surveys needed to be completed, too. The idea of carrying out extensive surveys in the Red Sea and in the Indian Ocean was beginning to take shape, and the survey vessel was sent to identify the areas where to start.
Touring Club Italiano, Carta della città e del porto di Massaua, 1:15.000 scale chart, Milano, A. Vallardi, 1929, private collection
Surveying from the Staffetta in the Red Sea, 1910, Genova, Istituto Idrografico della Marina Topographic survey near the Red Sea, 1928, Roma, Ufficio Storico della Marina Militare
The Thirties
The Royal Navy General Staff authorized the Istituto Idrografico della Regia Marina to organize the campaign and from 1933 to 1939 extensive hydrographic surveys were carried out, covering the coasts and anchorages in
Eritrea and Somalia. It was a very important result, actively contributing to the safety of navigation in one of the busiest areas on the globe. The Istituto used the collected data to issue three 1:1,000,000 scale charts, seven 1:300,000 scale charts, one 1: 150,000 scale chart, two 1: 60,000 scale charts and sixteen anchorage charts.
Water sampling with E. Bruam bottles and Leblanc equipment on board the Ammiraglio Magnaghi, 1924, Roma, Ufficio Storico della Marina Militare
The Ammiraglio Magnaghi at La Spezia,
17 dicembre 1914, Roma, Ufficio Storico della Marina Militare
Surveying from the Ammiraglio Magnaghi, 1924, Roma, Ufficio Storico della Marina Militare
Italian expeditions to the North Pole
The pioneersThe first Italian expedition to the North Pole was organized in 1899-1900 by Prince Luigi Amedeo, Duke of the Abruzzi, with the support of King Umberto I and Queen Margherita. On board the Stella Polare – formerly called Jason, a Norwegian whaler which was suitably adapted for the expedition – Prince Luigi Amedeo reached Teplitz bay, on the west coast of the Rudolph Island, in the Franz Joseph archipelago, where the ship was iced up. It was the fourth ship ever to have reached 82° 4 North. The hull, although reinforced, was partially damaged by the pressure of the ice. Therefore, Prince Luigi Amedeo decided to download all the material and spend the winter in a large tent as a base camp. The idea was to wait until the following spring to try to reach the Polo with dog sleds. In the meantime, the staff devoted themselves to scientific observations and to the study of the local fauna and flora.
On February 19, 1900, three teams were formed and left for the North Pole.
Prince Luigi Amedeo had lost two fingers because of the cold and could not join any of them. He had to rely on three officers, a non-commissioned officer and an able seaman from the Regia Marina (to which he belonged himself), and a number of Norwegian sailors and mountain guides from Courmayeur.
The first team was lost on the pack, never to be found. The second team, exhausted, barely managed to return to the base. On April 25, 1900 the third team, led by Umberto Cagni, reached the highest latitude ever reached before, 86°
34′ 49” North, surpassing Fridtjof Nansen
‘s record, only 381 km short of the North Pole. In view of the extreme weather, Cagni
The Stella Polare general staff, Milano, Hoepli, 1903, Genova, Istituto Idrografico della Marina Unloading provisions from the Stella Polare in Teplitz Bay, Milano, Hoepli, 1903, Genova, Istituto Idrografico della Marina
Tents, dogs, sleds and provisions unloaded from the Stella Polare, Milano, Hoepli, 1903,
Genova, Istituto Idrografico della Marina
Italian expeditions to the North Pole
The pioneersThe first Italian expedition to the North Pole was organized in 1899-1900 by Prince Luigi Amedeo, Duke of the Abruzzi, with the support of King Umberto I and Queen Margherita. On board the Stella Polare – formerly called Jason, a Norwegian whaler which was suitably adapted for the expedition – Prince Luigi Amedeo reached Teplitz bay, on the west coast of the Rudolph Island, in the Franz Joseph archipelago, where the ship was iced up. It was the fourth ship ever to have reached 82° 4 North. The hull, although reinforced, was partially damaged by the pressure of the ice. Therefore, Prince Luigi Amedeo decided to download all the material and spend the winter in a large tent as a base camp. The idea was to wait until the following spring to try to reach the Polo with dog sleds. In the meantime, the staff devoted themselves to scientific observations and to the study of the local fauna and flora.
On February 19, 1900, three teams were formed and left for the North Pole.
Prince Luigi Amedeo had lost two fingers because of the cold and could not join any of them. He had to rely on three officers, a non-commissioned officer and an able seaman from the Regia Marina (to which he belonged himself), and a number of Norwegian sailors and mountain guides from Courmayeur.
The first team was lost on the pack, never to be found. The second team, exhausted, barely managed to return to the base. On April 25, 1900 the third team, led by Umberto Cagni, reached the highest latitude ever reached before, 86°
34′ 49” North, surpassing Fridtjof Nansen
‘s record, only 381 km short of the North Pole. In view of the extreme weather, Cagni
The Stella Polare general staff, Milano, Hoepli, 1903, Genova, Istituto Idrografico della Marina Unloading provisions from the Stella Polare in Teplitz Bay, Milano, Hoepli, 1903, Genova, Istituto Idrografico della Marina
Tents, dogs, sleds and provisions unloaded from the Stella Polare, Milano, Hoepli, 1903,
Genova, Istituto Idrografico della Marina
preferred not to venture further towards the Pole and turned back. After ten days of march, during which they were forced to abandon almost all the equipment, the team finally managed to reach the base on June 23, 1900. They had covered 1,400 kilometers in 104 days.
On 15 August the Stella Polare, freed from the ice by means of explosive charges, started her return journey and reached Christiania (now Oslo) on September 11. The expedition was a success not only in setting a new record, but also because precious magnetic, geodetic and topographical data were collected.
Upon his return, the Duke was promoted Lieutenant Commander and continued his explorations, to the Rwenzori Mountains in 1906, and to the Karakoram in 1909.
The first undisputed sighting of the North Pole occurred when the crew of the Norge airship, designed by Italian aeronautical engineer Umberto Nobile, flew over it on May 12 1926. The expedition was sponsored by the Italian government (25%), by American businessman Lincoln Ellsworth – who was part of the crew - and by the Norwegian Aero Club, which had purchased the airship. After some test flights, on March 29 1926 the N-1, renamed Norge, had been officially delivered in the presence of various authorities, including Mussolini, Roald Amundsen, the leader of the expedition, and Lincoln Ellsworth.
After flying over the geographical North Pole, the Norge could not go back as planned because of the bad weather, and landed in Teller, Alaska.
The expedition was widely acclaimed and Nobile was promoted general of the Air Force. Despite the success, rivalries soon emerged between Amundsen and Nobile, and Umberto Nobile decided to organize a second expedition to the North Pole.
The Norge expedition had proved the effectiveness of airships in aerial
Airship Norge at the North Pole, Milano, Mondadori, 1959, Genova, Istituto Idrografico della Marina
Cagni, Petigax, Fenoillet and Canepa on June 23 1900 in the farthest north latitude ever reached at the time,
Milano, Hoepli, 1903, Genova, Istituto Idrografico della Marina
Airship Italia returning from the first mission, 1928, Roma, Ufficio Storico della Marina Militare
exploration of remote areas, but had not produced many results from a scientific and cartographic point of view: four millions of square kilometres of icepack were still to be explored and the possible presence of land was to be verified.
Nobile would have liked to use the N-5, a new type of airship with a gas capacity three times higher than the Norge’s, but could not obtain the necessary funds.
He was therefore forced to use the N-4, its twin, which he managed to complete thanks to the generosity of a number of businessmen and citizens from Milan: Italy welcomed a new expedition to the North Pole and support was offered even from the Vatican. Actually, the Pope blessed the crew before the departure. The Italia was 105 m long and 23.5 m tall, had a 19.4 m diameter and contained 18,500 cubic meters of hydrogen. Equipped with three 250 bhp Maybach engines, it weighed 10.5 tons, could reach a 117 km/hour speed and had the necessary equipment to land on ice, which the Norge could not do. Support ship Città di Milano was set up with private funds. A former German merchant ship used for laying cables, she was suitably equipped to cope with the polar environment. The commanding officer was commander Giuseppe Romagna Manoja, future director of the Istituto Idrografico.
Nobile obtained the collaboration of a number of Italian and foreign research centres, who provided the necessary equipment – a total of about 300 kgs.
Among the scientists and researchers who took part in the expedition: physicist Frantisek Behounek, director of the State Radiological Institute in Prague; Finn Malgrem, meteorologist, geophysicist and professor at the University of Uppsala, who had already been part in the Norge expedition; Aldo Pontremoli, founder of the Physics Department of the University of Milan; Alfredo Viglieri, hydrographer of the Italian Royal Navy, who was later
Airship Norge’s route from the North Pole to Alaska, Milano, Mondadori, 1959, Genova, Istituto Idrografico della Marina
The Città di Milano general staff,
1928, Genova, Istituto Idrografico della Marina
The Città di Milano commanding officer, commander Giuseppe Romagna Manoja, and general Umberto Nobile,
1928, Roma, Ufficio Storico della Marina Militare
exploration of remote areas, but had not produced many results from a scientific and cartographic point of view: four millions of square kilometres of icepack were still to be explored and the possible presence of land was to be verified.
Nobile would have liked to use the N-5, a new type of airship with a gas capacity three times higher than the Norge’s, but could not obtain the necessary funds.
He was therefore forced to use the N-4, its twin, which he managed to complete thanks to the generosity of a number of businessmen and citizens from Milan: Italy welcomed a new expedition to the North Pole and support was offered even from the Vatican. Actually, the Pope blessed the crew before the departure. The Italia was 105 m long and 23.5 m tall, had a 19.4 m diameter and contained 18,500 cubic meters of hydrogen. Equipped with three 250 bhp Maybach engines, it weighed 10.5 tons, could reach a 117 km/hour speed and had the necessary equipment to land on ice, which the Norge could not do. Support ship Città di Milano was set up with private funds. A former German merchant ship used for laying cables, she was suitably equipped to cope with the polar environment. The commanding officer was commander Giuseppe Romagna Manoja, future director of the Istituto Idrografico.
Nobile obtained the collaboration of a number of Italian and foreign research centres, who provided the necessary equipment – a total of about 300 kgs.
Among the scientists and researchers who took part in the expedition: physicist Frantisek Behounek, director of the State Radiological Institute in Prague; Finn Malgrem, meteorologist, geophysicist and professor at the University of Uppsala, who had already been part in the Norge expedition; Aldo Pontremoli, founder of the Physics Department of the University of Milan; Alfredo Viglieri, hydrographer of the Italian Royal Navy, who was later
Airship Norge’s route from the North Pole to Alaska, Milano, Mondadori, 1959, Genova, Istituto Idrografico della Marina
The Città di Milano general staff,
1928, Genova, Istituto Idrografico della Marina
The Città di Milano commanding officer, commander Giuseppe Romagna Manoja, and general Umberto Nobile,
1928, Roma, Ufficio Storico della Marina Militare
to become the director of the Istituto Idrografico. The all-Italian crew consisted of 13 members.
The research program included a variety of disciplines: geography, geophysics, gravimetry, meteorology, oceanography and the study of terrestrial magnetism and of the propagation of electromagnetic waves. Unfortunately Malmgren and Pontremoli died and much of their recordings were lost. The Behm sounder proved valuable in measuring depths; the location of Grosse Isle was corrected, and the absence of glaciers on the North East Land was observed; values of air ionization were found to be lower at higher latitudes; bacteriological research led to the verification of air sterility in polar regions; weeks on the ice pack in the famous
“red tent” were an opportunity to study ice drift; and radiotelegraphist Giuseppe Biagi, with shortwave radio Ondina 33, managed to reach considerable distances both in transmission and in reception.
Nobile’s plan was to carry out five exploratory flights, departing and returning from the base of Ny Alesund (Kings Bay), in the Svalbard Islands, to cover different areas. The first two flights went well, and 48,000 square kilometers of unknown regions were explored. The third flight (23-25 May 1928) was supposed to reach the North Pole and land some explorers equipped with a tent and food rations.
Sixteen researchers and crew, plus Nobile’s dog, Titina, left at 4:28 on May 23.
On May 24 they flew over the North Pole as scheduled, but the team could not land because of the bad weather.
During the return journey to Kings Bay - based on Malmgren’s “optimistic”
forecasts, they had decided not to fly on to Alaska - the airship crashed: the gondola and the tail broke in the impact, while the shell flew away with six men on board, never to be found again. The accident
Icebreaker Krassin from the Città di Milano, 1928, Roma, Ufficio Storico della Marina Militare
Chart of the Arctic Ocean - Spitsbergen.
Anchorages in King’s Bay. Surveys by the Città di Milano, 1928, Genova, Istituto Idrografico della Marina
aroused interest worldwide, and caused the first international rescue expedition in the North Pole. The survivors were stranded on the pack for 47 days before being spotted, on June 20, by a seaplane piloted by Umberto Maddalena and then rescued by Russian icebreaker Krassin on July 13. Nine people, including Roald Amundsen, died trying to save the men adrift in the the red tent.
The Istituto Idrografico della Regia Marina made a significant contribution to both expeditions, designing and building specifically – or else purchasing and calibrating – the astronomical, topographical, hydrographic and geodetic equipment.
The Istituto Idrografico was involved in the preparation of Prince Luigi Amedeo’s expedition, drafting the scientific program and supplying the necessary equipment, and then in processing the data collected.
Nobile’s expedition was the first Arctic hydrographic campaign in which surveys were carried out to produce nautical documents. Staff from the Istituto Idrografico were present on board the Città di Milano, and carried out surveys which resulted in two nautical charts, of the Kongsfjorden (Kings Bay, Svalbard islands), regularly updated until 1968:
Ancoraggio di Ny Ålesund (Chart No. 872, 1:7500 scale) and Ancoraggi nella Baia del Re (Chart No. 873, 1: 15000 scale).
From Nobile to the Arctic Council Nobile’s expeditions were not followed by further Italian projects in the Arctic Ocean. The outbreak of the Second World War and the political, social and economic problems that ensued prevented this kind of research. After the war, only private initiatives were carried out: Prof. Silvio Zavatti led several expeditions to Canada and Greenland, and founded the Istituto e Museo Geografico Polare in Civitanova Marche (now in Fermo), and Dr. Guido Monzino, who first reached the North Pole with dog sleds and original equipment packaged by the Eskimos (Inuit).
Only in the 1990s did a renewed sensitivity to explorations in extreme regions spread again across the country, as part of a larger program aimed at bringing Italy back to the forefront in the leading sectors of technical and scientific research, including exploitation of Arctic routes and natural resources. Italian research in the Arctic Ocean has steadily increased over the last twenty years, in particular in the area of the Svalbard Islands, where the
The “Dirigibile Italia” CNR arctic base in Ny-Ålesund, 2003, ARPA Veneto
Linnea Nordström, Arctic Council meeting for Senior Arctic Offi- cials at Centennial Hall, Juneau, Alaska, March 2017, Arctic Council Segretariat
aroused interest worldwide, and caused the first international rescue expedition in the North Pole. The survivors were stranded on the pack for 47 days before being spotted, on June 20, by a seaplane piloted by Umberto Maddalena and then rescued by Russian icebreaker Krassin on July 13. Nine people, including Roald Amundsen, died trying to save the men adrift in the the red tent.
The Istituto Idrografico della Regia Marina made a significant contribution to both expeditions, designing and building specifically – or else purchasing and calibrating – the astronomical, topographical, hydrographic and geodetic equipment.
The Istituto Idrografico was involved in the preparation of Prince Luigi Amedeo’s expedition, drafting the scientific program and supplying the necessary equipment, and then in processing the data collected.
Nobile’s expedition was the first Arctic hydrographic campaign in which surveys were carried out to produce nautical documents. Staff from the Istituto Idrografico were present on board the Città di Milano, and carried out surveys which resulted in two nautical charts, of the Kongsfjorden (Kings Bay, Svalbard islands), regularly updated until 1968:
Ancoraggio di Ny Ålesund (Chart No. 872, 1:7500 scale) and Ancoraggi nella Baia del Re (Chart No. 873, 1: 15000 scale).
From Nobile to the Arctic Council Nobile’s expeditions were not followed by further Italian projects in the Arctic Ocean. The outbreak of the Second World War and the political, social and economic problems that ensued prevented this kind of research. After the war, only private initiatives were carried out: Prof. Silvio Zavatti led several expeditions to Canada and Greenland, and founded the Istituto e Museo Geografico Polare in Civitanova Marche (now in Fermo), and Dr. Guido Monzino, who first reached the North Pole with dog sleds and original equipment packaged by the Eskimos (Inuit).
Only in the 1990s did a renewed sensitivity to explorations in extreme regions spread again across the country, as part of a larger program aimed at bringing Italy back to the forefront in the leading sectors of technical and scientific research, including exploitation of Arctic routes and natural resources. Italian research in the Arctic Ocean has steadily increased over the last twenty years, in particular in the area of the Svalbard Islands, where the
The “Dirigibile Italia” CNR arctic base in Ny-Ålesund, 2003, ARPA Veneto
Linnea Nordström, Arctic Council meeting for Senior Arctic Offi- cials at Centennial Hall, Juneau, Alaska, March 2017, Arctic Council Segretariat
CNR (National Research Council) opened a base on May 15, 1997, called “Dirigibile Italia” after Nobile’s airship. Located in Ny Alesund, where both Nobile’s expeditions started, the base includes about 330 square meters of laboratories and offices and can accommodate up to seven people.
Research focuses on marine biology, Arctic technology, oceanography, limnology, environmental studies, human biology and medicine. The base also manages the Amundsen-Nobile Climate Change Tower, installed by Kings Bay S.A. in April, 2009.
In view of the Italian efforts in the Arctic regions – from the explorations by Prince Luigi Amedeo and Umberto Nobile to the CNR base and the research carried out by OGS on board the Explora research vessel, and the presence of Italian companies, such as Leonardo-Finmeccanica and ENI - exploring for oil and natural gas in both Russian and Norwegian waters since the 1960s - Italy was admitted to the Arctic Council in 2013.
The High North program
The significant shrinking of the polar icecap, due to the progressive melting caused by global warming, has made the Arctic Ocean more accessible. Previously unreachable areas have started to be navigated as an alternative to the route around the Cape of Good Hope between
Bottom sampling from the Alliance, 2017, Genova, Istituto Idrografico della Marina
The Alliance from a launch off the Svalbard archipelago, 2017, Genova, Istituto Idrografico della Marina
The Alliance in the Bay of Biscaille,
2017, Genova, Istituto Idrografico della Marina
Europe and China. Exploitation of fossil fuel and other valuable materials, intensive fishing and mass tourism are expected to increase, with consequent uncontrollable changes in a region of the planet characterized by an extremely fragile and delicate ecosystem, which plays a fundamental role as “global climate regulator”. It is in this rapidly evolving context that the High North Research Program was developed.
The object is to contribute to the improvement of the knowledge of the Arctic environment above and below the surface of the ocean, monitoring its evolution over time and at the same time ensuring safety of navigation, free exchange of goods and free use of maritime resources. The Italian Navy has made available technical- logistical support, vessels and equipment, as well as the scientific capabilities of the Istituto Idrografico.
In 2015 the Italian Navy asked the Istituto Idrografico to study the changes taking place in the Arctic Ocean, an area of extreme strategic importance. The result was Dinamiche della copertura glaciale artica e rotte di navigazione, published in 2015.
In 2017 the High North research program was launched, to contribute to the Italian National Arctic Strategy, whose aim is to obtain a greater presence of Italy in that area. The program is to be carried out over a number of years, under the operational guidance of the Italian Navy and with the scientific coordination of the Istituto Idrografico, to support national and international scientific research centres in the study of Arctic hydrography, oceanography and climatology. The High North Program involves national and international institutions, universities and research centers, as well as private companies, operating in specific sectors such as hydrography, geophysics,
Recovering a box corer from the Alliance, 2017, Genova, Istituto Idrografico della Marina
The Italian Navy flag in the Arctic Ocean, 2018, Genova, Istituto Idrografico della Marina
Preparing for drone surveying, 2018, Genova, Istituto Idrografico della Marina
