Design and Implementation of an Underwater Node for Multidisciplinary Scientific Research in the Mediterranean Sea

An interdisciplinary underwater laboratory is currently being constructed at a water depth of 3,500 meters on the seabed of the Mediterranean Sea. Situated approximately 100 km from the coast and southeast of Portopalo di Capopassero (SR), this innovative facility aims to explore the underwater world. The infrastructure includes an on-shore station that houses the data center and electrical power system, supporting the extensive underwater network. This shore station is connected to the seabed by means of a primary electrical and optical underwater cable, ensuring uninterrupted communication and power supply. Moreover, to facilitate efficient data transfer, a dedicated 10Gbit optical channel establishes a high-speed connection between the shore station and the Italian research data network