LIVORNO. Dredging to increase the depth of the seabed, works along the canal that runs alongside the Torre del Marzocco, the “cutting” of the Vegliaia dam, as well as the reshaping of the quays. This is the four-step plan of the Port Authority of Livorno to allow megaships to enter (moor and leave) the port of Livorno without today’s problems, awaiting the construction of the Darsena Europa, the 500 million euro project which according to forecasts should be completed by the end of 2027 to revolutionize “the port system” as a whole.
The President of the Authority Luciano Guerrieri outlined the interventions on the agenda for the port of Livorno in the coming months «to remain on the market» during the forum organized in the Salone del Tirreno entitled “The scenarios of the new port system between the Darsena Europa and the traffic in the delicate international context”.
A meeting between the various and major players in our port sector which was also an opportunity to present “Tirreno Shipping”, the new digital section of our newspaper dedicated to all the various facets of port sector.
At the center of the debate, in which Nereo Marcucci, delegate for infrastructures of Confindustria Livorno, Massa and Florence, Gloria Dari vice-president of Confetra (the Italian general confederation of transport and logistics) Tuscany with delegation to the ports, Giovanni Tognotti, president of Spedimar, the association of companies and freight forwarders, and Francesca Scali, president of Asamar, the association that brings together maritime agents, the future of our port, also in relation to the “increasingly unstable” geopolitical situation.
«Moments like this – explains Guerrieri referring to the forum – are important to discuss and understand the changes». Precisely in this phase of “global transition” it is necessary for the port of Livorno to be able to reshape itself in the combination of “logistics and productivity”, trying to start “collaborations with other ports for the development of traffic, with an eye to energy and to fuels”. Also taking advantage of a characteristic that the port has retained over the years: a diversified offer between containers, roro and passengers.
It is Marcucci who underlines how «the Darsena Europa is necessary» especially for «the relocation of the container terminal so as to give space to new goods which are now suffering». Also placing emphasis on a central theme that concerns the future of the market. And therefore on what direction the port of Livorno should take to be competitive. Imagining in this sense “a deglobalized future”. In other words, less will be produced. Which is why the combination between productivity, particularly in the manufacturing sector, and logistics will become increasingly closer. Said to Marcucci: «They are two legs of the same table, if one is missing the table is lame». For this reason, the function of the Livorno port which «no other port has with this conformation», explains Tognotti, will be fundamental. Starting from the “development of the former TRW area”. Like all those necessary infrastructures such as the overpass and the microtunnel, just to give two examples. «These interconnections are the basis for planning the future», admits Guerrieri.
It is Gloria Dari who asks and wonders whether the costs of the Darsena Europa may be subject to increases and therefore delays. A key question to which Guerrieri answers: «In our opinion, costs could rise even if inflation is falling. This is why we have activated three channels to set aside resources: a loan of 80 million to the European bank, a reserve of 40 on the Authority’s budget and another 40 from the government for commissioned projects.” Hoping they aren’t necessary.
