After the Russian attacks against the NordStream pipelines, the level of attention is also being raised in Italy to protect the various facilities that bring gas to Italy.
Three gas pipelines are under surveillance by the Italian Navy: Trasmed connects Algeria via Tunisia. Greenstream which guarantees the connection with Libya and Tap which secures the flow of gas from Eastern Europe and runs under the Adriatic Sea, near the Otranto Channel, between the coasts of Puglia and Albania.
According to press sources, the Italian Navy is moving in several directions to protect this infrastructure:
- minesweepers of the 54th Coastal Minesweeper Squadron of La Spezia will be used to guard the seabed where the pipelines pass
- for a more ‘extended’ surveillance, a number of frigates and P-72As based at Sigonella will be used.