Due navi. At the same time, anchor yourself to the same wharf of the porto Of Taranto. Not industrial ships, packed with goods or containers, but full of tourists. The reality of the port transformation, now increasingly diversified, is what was possible to see yesterday looking at the Molo San Cataldo, right at the entrance to the Taranto port. Two ships, from the Tui and Costa Crociere companies, one next to the other. The cruise season of the Port of Taranto, now in full swing in the summer of 2024, yesterday made official an important milestone for the development of passenger traffic. For the first time, in fact, the simultaneous docking of two large cruise ships was allowed at the Molo San Cataldo: the “Fascinosa” of Costa Crociere was moored on the west side while the “Mein Schiff 5” of Tui was anchored on the east side. The latter was at its maiden call in the Ionian port, or rather its first docking in Taranto.
The possibility of double mooring of cruise ships was made possible thanks to the full synergy between the Port System Authority of the Ionian Sea and the Port Authority. In fact, together they operationally coordinated the activities carried out by the contracting authority Sogesid, the company awarded the contract for the intervention called “Excerpt – Functional Lot I: Extraordinary Maintenance Interventions Aimed at restoring the seabed levels on the eastern side of the San Cataldo Pier”, approved in definitive approval with Mase Decree only on January 18th.
Yesterday’s result represents the final step in a process that began some time ago when the eastern quay of Molo San Cataldo was completely unusable: and this – as the port authority explains – was due to the silting that had limited its project quota. The problem was overcome through the rectification works carried out by the port authority, tested in 2021, which allowed the quay to be extended to a length of 360 meters, with a single alignment.
Following the latest dredging and seabed restoration interventions, the eastern side of the quay was modernized and made available to accommodate large cruise ships, currently being able to count on 8 and a half meters of draft for the entire quay. The verification of the depth of the seabed was confirmed with the order issued a few days ago by the Port Authority regarding “Maximum immersion allowed at the docks of the port of Taranto and mooring limitations”. In summary, the intervention made it possible to regularize the seabed and bring it to the level envisaged by the Port Regulatory Plan, an operation carried out with all the precautions and environmental safeguards required by current legislation.
Participating in the works were Impresa D’Aloisio srl, which subcontracted a portion to the company La Dragaggi srl, Prisma srl - which oversaw the environmental monitoring activities – and Ecotaras SpA which provided the necessary environmental safeguards.
And so here is the new berth ready. The Mein Schiff 5 of Tui was yesterday, therefore, the first cruise ship ever to dock along the eastern quay of Molo San Cataldo
“There is great enthusiasm and satisfaction today – said the President of the Port System Authority of the Ionian Sea Sergio Prete – for the arrival of the two cruise lines simultaneously at the Molo San Cataldo of the Port of Taranto. The goal achieved is the result of intense work and continuous dialogue with the Harbour Office and the companies involved, in particular Taranto Cruise Port Srl, which we thank for having effectively carried out all the planned interventions in a very short time, allowing the regular docking of the ships scheduled along both sides of the Molo San Cataldo. I believe it is my duty to express heartfelt thanks to all those who, in various capacities and as part of a fruitful team effort, have made it possible to achieve this result by increasing the attractiveness of the Ionian port and strengthening its role as a cruise destination in the Mediterranean”.
The work continues. With a greater opening of the port to passengers and also to the people of Taranto. “With the future implementation of further interventions such as the retreat of the eastern gate, the waterfront and the completion of the Falanto building, the Molo San Cataldo and the hinge area between the port and the city will become particularly attractive for tourists and citizens”, concluded President Sergio Prete.
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