Fincantieri’s €600m deep dive puts on show of underwater force

in a deal worth an initial €600 million, Fincantieri has snapped up Next Geosolutions, WSense, Graal Tech and Defcomm to cement the group’s strategy to become what it describes as ‘an international underwater champion’, bringing together capabilities spanning marine surveys, underwater communications, autonomous vehicles and offshore services.

Fincantieri said the four businesses would significantly strengthen its Underwater division in a market that is becoming increasingly important for security, energy and the protection of critical infrastructure.

Next Geosolutions is an international provider of marine surveys, geoscience and offshore construction support services; WSense develops underwater communications systems and Internet of Underwater Things technologies; Graal Tech specialises in autonomous underwater vehicles; and Defcomm designs autonomous surface vehicles.

On a pro-forma basis, the enlarged underwater business is forecast to generate around €1.1 billion in revenue and €220 million in EBITDA during 2026, says Fincantieri, effectively reaching the group’s original 2030 targets four years early. The transactions are also expected to contribute more than €60 million to group net profit this year.

Chief executive Pierroberto Folgiero said the deals would allow the group to ‘accelerate the execution of our business plan’, strengthening profitability while expanding its presence in one of the fastest-growing areas of the maritime and defence sectors.

The move positions Fincantieri among a growing group of international companies building integrated subsea technology portfolios as governments and offshore industries increase investment in underwater security, autonomous systems and critical infrastructure protection.

Rather than remaining solely a shipbuilder, Fincantieri is assembling a vertically integrated capability covering marine survey, geoscience, underwater communications, robotic vehicles and offshore support services.

The strategy mirrors a broader trend across the sector, where companies are expanding beyond platforms into data, robotics and subsea surveillance as demand grows to protect offshore energy assets, pipelines and telecommunications cables amid heightened geopolitical tensions.