Source: Osservatorio Artico
The 2025 High North mission marked the ninth edition of a programme that the Italian Navy has been carrying forward for almost a decade, with a progressive expansion of scientific activities in the Arctic each year. The initiative, led by the Navy’s Hydrographic Institute and supported by a wide range of scientific partners, was once again followed this year by Osservatorio Artico, with a reporter on board for the entire duration of the mission. The 2025 campaign confirms Italy’s stable and established presence in the Arctic and represents one of the most significant initiatives of the country’s engagement in the region, conducted within a strongly institutional framework such as that of the Armed Forces.
Among the most striking elements of this year was the geographical record achieved by the Alliance, which reached a latitude of 82° 18.7′ N, setting an absolute record for the Italian Navy in Arctic waters. A similar result had already been obtained last year, when the Alliance reached 82° 01′ N. Year after year, the Italian Navy pushes further north, into waters it had never before reached in its history.
Science At The World’s Rooftop
The advance to these latitudes made it possible to conduct sampling directly on floating ice, an activity that in previous years had not had the same centrality. Among the most significant projects was Sea Care, dedicated to studying the presence of contaminants and signs of antibiotic resistance in Arctic waters. It is striking that at these latitudes, so distant from human settlements, on the very rooftop of the world, research is being carried out with the aim of measuring more precisely the links between environmental health and human health, ultimately improving human well-being.
Another novelty was the debut of ICE-BLUE, a programme of the Italian Space Agency aimed at monitoring the physiological and psychological responses of crews in extreme environments, comparable to those experienced during deep-space missions. For the first time, High North systematically incorporated a biomedical dimension, adding the study of human conditions to its oceanographic and environmental research. The mission thus emerged as a testing ground for sectors beyond the strictly maritime sphere, opening new opportunities for cooperation between defence, science, and medicine.
Back to the more “typical” and “traditional” activities of High North, the mission also devoted particular attention to geological research, focusing on the collection of samples from the seabed. The study of sediments, sand and gravel is essential to understanding the long-term processes that affect the Arctic and provides valuable data for climate research as well. Another relevant aspect of the mission concerns the training of young researchers. On board the Alliance there was room for trainees and students from various Italian universities and institutions, who were able to work with hydrographic instruments and advanced techniques. This training dimension is part of the intention to prepare a new scientific community capable of working confidently in extreme environments.
The broader framework in which the mission took place, however, cannot be ignored. The Alliance is a NATO vessel, and its presence in the waters surrounding the Svalbard Archipelago carries a significance that goes beyond scientific research. High North was conceived and developed as an environmental research project, yet its military character remains clear. Italy—and NATO by extension—chooses to exercise its Arctic presence through an instrument of the Armed Forces, in a region where science and maritime security converge.
Source: Osservatorio Artico
Looking To The Future
With the return of the Alliance to the home port of La Spezia, the ninth edition of High North came to an end, with a positive assessment drawn by the Navy and the Ministry of Defence. Attention is already turning to the future, in which the new ship Quirinale will play a significant role. The vessel, now in an advanced stage of fitting out, is designed to replace and enhance the capabilities of the Alliance itself. Larger, more modern and equipped with a broader technological suite, the Quirinale will be able to support long-term missions in polar waters, integrating state-of-the-art laboratories and systems for environmental and climate monitoring. Its entry into service, scheduled for 2027, will mark a qualitative leap in Italy’s capacity to operate in extreme scenarios, consolidating the continuity of High North and expanding the possibilities for research.
The High North mission remains one of the most evident manifestations of Italy’s engagement in the Arctic, and we will continue to document it closely.
AUTHORTommaso Bontempi
Journalist
Osservatorio Artico