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AGS Ammiraglio Magnaghi

The oceanographic ship Magnaghi (A 5303) is the first of this kind to be designed and built in Italy for the Marina Militare. Built by Riunited Shipyards at Riva Trigoso has been launched on October 8, 1974, completed and entered in service on May 2, 1975. In 1990 underwent complete modernization.

The hydro-oceanographic ship Admiral Magnaghi "sails for sailors", as stated in his motto "Nauta Pro Nautis", from 1975, the year of its delivery to the Navy The hydrographic activity carried out by the Unit is realized in the realization of port reliefs , coastal and offshore (up to a depth of 3000 m) through soundings, search for shallow waters and wrecks, determination of the topography of the coastline and of the port works, study of the nature of the seabed and more in general, collection of all information aimed at updating nautical documentation.

In the oceanographic field Nave Ammiraglio Magnaghi is able to perform hydrological surveys for the measurement of the chemical / physical parameters of the water column, sedimentological surveys for sampling of the sea bed, surveys of the tidal type for the measurement of level variations of the sea.

The instrumentation, continuously updated and maintained at the state of the art, in addition to the operating rooms and the logistical capabilities of the unit, make Nave Ammiraglio Magnaghi an ideal scientific platform to conduct campaigns also in synergy with research organizations outside the Navy.

The unitbears the name of Admiral Giovan Battista Magnaghi (1839-1902), decorated with military valor in the 1860-61 campaign. In view of the establishment of a cartographic establishment by the Italian State, the then 1st Class Vascello Lieutenant Magnaghi was sent on mission to other hydrographic authorities in Europe (Principality of Monaco, Paris, London) to study the organization and operation of the local hydrographic offices and to purchase the most advanced nautical instruments for our fleet and for the compilation of nautical charts.

Following the experience gained, in 1872 he directed the Departmental Scientific Office established at Forte San Giorgio in Genoa, which is still the headquarters of the Navy Hydrographic Institute (renamed in 1899). Particularly well-known in the world of thalassography, he made important improvements to the hydrographic instrumentation, developed the astronomical observatory, established specialized courses in hydrography for the officers and created the school of designers and engravers for the creation of cartography.

The first unit of the Navy dedicated to Admiral Magnaghi served from 1918 to 1938, participating in important hydro-oceanographic expeditions in the Red Sea and in the Sicilian Channel. This unit went into disarmament in 1945.

The Unit currently in service is the first hydrographic ship entirely designed and built in Italy, in Riva Trigoso Shipyards. Delivered to the Navy on May 2, 1975, modernized in 1990, it is currently equipped with modern hydro-oceanographic equipment and sophisticated software for processing the acquired data.

With effect from 1 December 2014, Nave Magnaghi depends organically and operationally, through the Squadron of Hydrographic Units and Experiences (COMSQUAIDRO LA SPEZIA) and the Command of Mine Countermeasure Forces (MARICODRAG LA SPEZIA), from the Head Command of the Naval Squadron (CINCNAV ).

In 2012 the ships searched for shells dispersed by the M / N EUROCARGO Venice (Island of Gorgona), and searched for wrecks at Santa Maria di Leuca and waters in front of the port of Bari. In 2011 the VAVILOV11 campaign with the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) - Central Tyrrhenian Sea.

In 2013: RICAMAR-13 - Survey activities for the characterization of the Gulf of Pozzuoli with the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV); PANAREA-13 - Surveys for the characterization of the Panarea rocks area with the Institute of Marine Sciences of the National Research Center (CNR-ISMAR); Environmental surveys at the Rada di Augusta and the Aeolian Islands at the Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA).

From 2014 to 2016, the Unit was the subject of an important Stop Works APP (Programmatic Progressive Modernization), during which maintenance was carried out on the platform system and the hull, as well as the modernized hydro-oceanographic instrumentation.