The Fincantieri Foundation and Luiss Guido Carli University have joined forces to launch an innovative research initiative focused on safeguarding subsea cables and pipelines. The project, known as SUBCAP – SUBsea CAbles Protection, aims to develop regulatory frameworks and operational solutions to protect critical subsea infrastructure.

Under the leadership of Professor Paola Severino, the Luiss research center “Law and Governance: Compliance, Security and Sustainability” will spearhead the project. This collaborative effort underscores Fincantieri’s commitment to maritime security and its dedication to fostering partnerships with academia to drive the creation of cutting-edge, sustainable solutions.

Key Objectives of the SUBCAP Project

The SUBCAP project seeks to establish a comprehensive legal framework for the protection of submarine infrastructure. By conducting a multilevel, multidisciplinary legal research, the initiative aims to define the boundaries and conditions for safeguarding underwater assets, particularly in international settings.

Through a comparative legal analysis at the international, European, and national levels, the project will identify regulatory gaps and propose operational solutions that leverage advanced technologies such as sensors, sonar, drones, and autonomous underwater vehicles within a well-defined legal context.

Timeline and Phases of the Project

Scheduled to run until 2027, the two-year SUBCAP project will unfold in several phases, including:

• Comparative legal analysis
• Empirical data collection
• Development of regulatory recommendations
• Public dissemination of findings

Pierroberto Folgiero, CEO and General Manager of Fincantieri, emphasized the strategic importance of protecting the underwater domain for security and development in the future. He stated, “With the SUBCAP research project, we aim to make a tangible contribution to defining a clear and shared legal framework to accompany the evolution of technologies safeguarding submarine infrastructure. This collaboration with Luiss Guido Carli University marks another step toward an integrated industry-research approach to competently tackle future challenges.”