Stromboli Early Tsunami Warning System
Overview
EOM Offshore supported Italy’s tsunami early-warning and volcano-monitoring efforts through the successful deployment of a fully integrated seafloor-to-surface monitoring system offshore Stromboli, one of the most active volcanoes on Earth. In collaboration with the Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV), the system was deployed in July 2025 and has operated reliably since, contributing real-time data to Italy’s national Tsunami Warning Center.
The Challenge
Stromboli presents an extreme operating environment with intense volcanic activity, tsunami and submarine landslide risk from the Sciara del Fuoco, and highly dynamic sea states that place significant strain on mooring and cabling systems. The site requires continuous real-time power and data transmission from seafloor sensors to shore, along with recoverable components for maintenance without diver intervention. Under these conditions, traditional rigid or chain-based systems are prone to fatigue, failure, or data loss.
Our Solution
EOM Offshore engineered and deployed a resilient, multi-parameter tsunami monitoring system designed specifically for high-energy environments:
A seafloor monitoring module, anchored to a reinforced concrete deadweight, housing:
Pressure sensor for rapid sea-level change detection
Hydrophone for acoustic and volcanic activity
Accelerometer for seafloor motion
An elastic electromechanical cable connecting the seafloor module to the surface buoy, which:
Transmits data bidirectionally
Supplies electrical power from buoy to seafloor
Acts as the compliant mooring element
The elastic cable can stretch up to 2.5× its unstretched length while maintaining mechanical and electrical integrity.
To reach ~88 m water depth, two cable segments were connected in series using an intermediate connection buoy.
Gimbal-type joints ensured freedom of movement at connection points, minimizing fatigue.
A mechanical release system, triggered acoustically from the surface, allows the seafloor module and intermediate buoys to be recovered for extraordinary maintenance.
Data flow:
Seafloor → buoy via Stretch-Hose
Buoy → shore via radio and Wi-Fi
Shore → INGV monitoring centers in Stromboli and Rome
Key advantages of this solution included:
This deployment demonstrates several key advantages of EOM Offshore’s technology:
High reliability in extreme environments
Elastic compliance reduces peak loads, fatigue, and failure risk compared to rigid systems.Continuous, real-time monitoring
Supports early detection and rapid tsunami warning dissemination.Integrated power + data solution
Eliminates the need for separate power and communications infrastructure.Maintenance-ready design
Acoustic release and buoyancy allow recovery without divers or complex offshore operations.