The Port of Genoa has kicked off construction works for a new breakwater to accommodate larger vessels.
The laying of the first stone for the Genoa’s New Breakwater project was celebrated on 4 May.
The new breakwater will be 6.2 kilometres long and will provide safe access to Ultra Large ships, which currently have limited maneuverability within the space of the existing basin built in the 1930s.
The construction of the breakwater will reportedly create 1,000 jobs directly and indirectly, making it one of the biggest strategic projects to be done in Italy with funding from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR).
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The project was made possible thanks to a collaborative effort by the Port Authority, the region’s public institutions, and the national government.
The contract for the project was awarded in October to the PERGENOVA BREAKWATER consortium led by Webuild, with partners Fincantieri Infrastructure Opere Marittime, Fincosit and Sidra.
The new breakwater will be built using nearly all of the material from the demolition of the old breakwater, which will be reused in respect of the principles of a circular economy, reducing the environmental impact of its construction.
Once completed, the port will have a turning basin of 800 metres, giving more space for freight, passenger and cruise ships.
It is estimated that the new breakwater will ensure a progressive annual growth in commercial traffic of 22-30 per cent from 2027 to 2030, when the second phase of the project will be completed.
The port authority estimates the economic benefit will be €4.2 billion ($4.6 billion) in terms of greater income from container traffic and from port rights and taxes.
