OLBIA. Today, Sunday 2 June, with three cruise ships moored at the White Island is considered “record” by the president of the Sardinia Port Authority, Massimo Deiana. After a hit-and-miss start to the cruise season in Gallura, characterized by a series of cancellations due to wind, the lack of a second tugboat and, recently, shallow waters, Deiana rejoices and thanks the port operators.
“A historic performance – declares Deiana – made more complex by the presence of the latest generation maxi ferries which required extraordinary work from all the AdSP staff, the Maritime Directorate of Olbia, the pilots, the tugboats (it would be better to use the singular since it is always and only one, ed), and the mooring men, to whom I extend my particular thanks for their commitment and great professionalism.”
In fact, around 10:00 in the morning, as can be seen in the photo, the three giants were moored at the port: Seven Seas Voyager, Azamara Pursuit And MSC Orchestra. The two of the line Moby Ale Two And Grimaldi Bonariaand at the industrial port two other lines, the Moby Drea and the GNV Allegra.
Deiana, in the note sent to the press, also defines as “physiological” the historical problems of the port relating to the seabed which caused the cancellation of the arrival of the Pacific Coastwhich fell back on the port of Oristano>, turning away from Olbia. “Physiological – declares Deiana – such as the continuous movement of muddy material in the seabed, for which, within our competence and within the limits set by the law, we have put in place immediate solutions.”
President Deiana refers to the work of Redeemer which, after the alarm from the Costa Pacifica, late in the season, moves sand and mud from one point to another inside the port channel in an attempt to level the seabed and prevent the piles from being less than 9.50 metres. A situation detected by the instruments of the Costa Pacifica, the ship with the greatest draft, whose commander decided not to risk entering Olbia by sailing to Oristano. Obviously this is a buffer solution which is repeated cyclically but which cannot be decisive.
In light of today’s results, Deiana closes by minimizing the problems and maintaining that “The port of Olbia is therefore in good health. The hope is that results like today’s can leave their mark and overcome the sterile controversies and reckless considerations that risk generating unnecessary alarmism to the detriment of the airport’s excellent reputation at an international level.”
The cruise season, therefore, proceeds. In Olbia there are around 75 from April to Decemberalready down to 70 with cancellations while in Cagliari they are around 150 from January to December. In the capital, where there are four tugboats and the seabed is adequate, there has been no cancellation to date. If Olbia enjoys “good health”, therefore, the port of Cagliari bursts with well-beingdespite the capital being geographically and historically far from the Peninsula-Sardinia routes.
