Rome, 14 May. – A wait lasting more than twenty years ended today with the symbolic laying of the foundation stone of what will be the new commercial port of Fiumicino in the presence of the Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Matteo Salvini, of the President of the System Authority Port of the Central Northern Tyrrhenian Sea, Pino Musolino and the Mayor of Fiumicino, Mario Baccini, as well as the vice-president of the Lazio Region Roberta Angelilli.
A foundation stone – complete with a contract signed between the parties and a religious blessing – delicately placed on the seabed to the right of the north pier and the entrance to the canal port, by a vessel with the collective promise of solving many of this problem area with an initial investment financed by the Ministry of 55 million. The project involves the construction of a breakwater to guarantee the safety of the port by protecting it from increasingly frequent storm surges. The works should be completed by contract by the end of February 2026 and also include the completion of the work with a service dock for the fishing fleet. On land, however, an area of over 3 hectares is planned for the fishing vessel infrastructure, in addition to the relocation of some important shipyards now located within Fiumicino with imaginable logistical problems
«It is another example of the Italy of doing – explains Minister Salvini – after decades and decades, even if speaking with some local elders they say that the wait had lasted for a century, I am proud of the laying of this foundation stone of an important port . Which will be capable of generating work, beauty, wealth, tourism. Because Fiumicino is not just the airport but a community of entrepreneurs, restaurateurs and fishermen and I am proud to have contributed with the Ministry to the beginning of a journey because then other projects will need to be prepared. For me, blocking construction sites is a reason for living and I hope that no one has the intention of blocking construction sites with any of the investigations underway elsewhere. Investigations that legitimately must continue but without slowing down the development of places like Bari, Genoa and even Fiumicino. Development that serves all sailors, citizens and fishermen. Because Italy needs ports, roads, railways and even bridges.”
“Only here – he added – do we argue about a bridge that has no political colour, it is useful to everyone. A bridge unites. Then in Civitavecchia we are contributing with other investments to the development of the port. And then I think about the streets. Because you have to get to the sea and therefore Latin Rome must be sorted out, even the Pontine one which has been standing still for decades.”
For the Mayor of Fiumicino, Baccini, the new port represents “the constant growth of Fiumicino as a city. We were considered an annex of Fiumicino but we are proving to be much more between BluEconomy and Green Economy. Thanks to the commitment of the Ministry and the Port Authority, with this work we will secure our entire fishing fleet and part of the shipbuilding industry”.
Closing the speeches were the words of the President of the Port System Authority of the Central and Northern Tyrrhenian Sea, Pino Musolino: «In the meantime, let’s move from words to facts. Then, this is the first commercial port to start from scratch in Italy in the last 40 years. It is a pride not only for us but for the whole country
