Geophysical Survey Start

Field operations for the Milano–Montalto HVDC preliminary marine survey and environmental characterisation campaign are planned to commence in the second half of 2026, following the 10 April 2026 award of the €28 million RTC contract led by Next Geosolutions (84% stake) with partners CoNISMa, Poliservizi and CIBM. The campaign will deploy multiple survey vessels along the approximately 280 km submarine cable corridor between Montalto di Castro (Viterbo) and Avenza (Massa-Carrara) to acquire high-precision data on seabed morphology, shallow stratigraphy and sediment characteristics across both nearshore and offshore sections, alongside environmental characterisation of phyto- and zoobenthic communities. The geophysical and geotechnical results will feed the detailed engineering phase ahead of the authorisation submission to MASE and ultimately the construction permit. As a quarter-precision projection, the date reflects the source language ("seconda metà del 2026") rather than a specific calendar start; the precise mobilisation week will depend on vessel availability and the completion of detailed survey-permit conditions.