The summer oceanographic campaign of the research vessel Laura Bassi is about to begin

The R/V Laura Bassi is scheduled to depart from Trieste tomorrow for a scientific campaign in the Mediterranean, which is scheduled to take place from 27 August to 15 September and is being coordinated by the OGS. The research activities, which will take place in the Gulf of Trieste, the Aeolian Islands, and the southern Adriatic, are intended to deepen studies of strategic areas and test new oceanographic instrumentation. A significant proportion of the activities will be implemented as part of the ITINERIS project, a PNRR initiative in which the OGS is a partner.

In the Gulf of Trieste, the vessel is scheduled to undertake geological sampling and geophysical surveys as part of the SABMAR project, which is funded by the Geological Service of the Friuli Venezia Giulia Autonomous Region.

Once this phase is complete, the ship will proceed to operate in the vicinity of the Aeolian Islands (Panarea, Basiluzzo), employing the AUV Hugin, which can reach depths of 3,000 metres. The AUV Hugin will be utilised to acquire geophysical, geochemical, and morphological data from the seabed. The personnel at the OGS headquarters in Milazzo will also contribute to the collection of sediment samples and acoustic data.

During the transit phases of the Laura Bassi in the Adriatic and Ionian Seas, additional data will be collected, scientific instrumentation shall be calibrated, and training and acoustic monitoring activities with hydrophones will be carried out to detect and analyze sounds emitted by marine mammals. These activities will also serve as preparation for the upcoming mission in Antarctica.

Following a technical docking in Milazzo, the vessel will transition to the second phase of the EMSO-SA2025-LB oceanographic mission in the southern Adriatic Sea. This stage will prioritise scientific research and the ongoing maintenance of oceanographic moorings. Researchers will be operating in the area of the observatory site, which is managed by both the OGS and the CNR-ISP. This site holds the longest continuous data series in the entire Adriatic sea and it is thus a key component of the European EMSO infrastructure, which is dedicated to real-time and long-term monitoring of oceanic processes.

Additionally, the R/V Laura Bassi will contribute to measurements near fixed stations, in conjunction with the autonomous underwater vehicle Ocean Glider, and various Argo floats deployed as part of the international climate and oceanographic research programme Argo. The ship's onboard laboratories will also support the calibration of the biogeochemical data collected.

The multidisciplinary and multi-platform approach adopted for all research activities will strengthen the integration of physical, biogeochemical, and ecological observations, improving the overall quality of the data and the ability to respond to scientific and practical challenges. Upon completion of the current campaign, the ship is scheduled to return to Trieste to undertake critical final preparations ahead of the next campaign in Antarctica, currently scheduled to begin on 4 October.