Italy’s R/V Gaia Blu Completes Phase 1 of PEACE Project — First Italian Ship on the Path to IMO MASS Code Compliance

Italy has completed the first phase of the PEACE Project (ProgressivE Autonomous researCh vessel Evolution) aboard the R/V Gaia Blu, the flagship research vessel of the National Research Council (CNR).

Led by CNR-INM (Institute of Marine Engineering) and CNIT (National Interuniversity Consortium for Telecommunications) based in Livorno, the project has equipped Gaia Blu with enhanced sensors including cameras and LIDAR, which — combined with existing ECDIS navigation data — are fused in real time and transmitted to a shore-based Remote Operations Centre (ROC) located at the CNIT Laboratory in Livorno.

The milestone makes Gaia Blu the first Italian‑flagged ship to formally begin a structured path toward higher levels of maritime autonomy. The project supports Italy’s contribution to the IMO’s Experience Building Phase (EBP) that will follow adoption of the non‑mandatory MASS Code, expected at MSC 111 in May 2026

It also aligns with Italy’s broader MASS strategy, which includes the I‑MASTER national autonomous ship test range under construction at Lake Nemi, led by CNR‑INM in partnership with ESA and the Italian Space Agency.

📃📷 Source : Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche