The Port System Authority of the Southern Tyrrhenian and Ionian Sea has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Guardia di Finanza to strengthen monitoring and control activities at the Port of Gioia Tauro.
Under the agreement, two remotely piloted aircraft systems have been granted on a five-year loan, with the option to extend.
The drones, described as latest generation systems, will be used exclusively by the Guardia di Finanza’s Gioia Tauro Group to support surveillance and control operations across the port area.
The package includes the aircraft, accessories, and specialised training for personnel involved in flight operations and data acquisition.
The initiative is intended to reinforce ongoing efforts to counter organised crime and illicit trafficking, which authorities describe as a longstanding focus of activity at the port.
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The agreement was signed at the Authority’s headquarters by Paolo Piacenza, President of the Port System Authority, and Major Bruno Murano, representing the Technical, Logistics and Administrative Department of the Guardia di Finanza.
The signing took place in the presence of Colonel Agostino Tortora, Provincial Commander of Reggio Calabria, and Lieutenant Colonel Ivan Conidi, Commander of the Gioia Tauro Group.
The deployment forms part of the wider “Gioia Sicura” project, which focuses on infrastructure and IT services to improve integrated security across logistics areas managed by the Authority.
The programme is funded through Italy’s PON Legalità scheme, with total funding of €18.2 million ($21 million).
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The Authority stated that the initiative also aligns with its broader strategy to digitise administrative and operational processes across its ports.
This direction has recently been supported by additional funding of around €2 million ($2.3 million), awarded through a public tender led by the Presidency of the Council of Ministers. The funding is intended to support further technological development, including high-tech projects and the rollout of 5G connectivity within the Gioia Tauro port area.
For more information:
Port of Gioia Tauro – https://www.portodigioiatauro.it/
