A significant step forward in the development of the Port of Bari has been made with the creation of the Planning Office, a dedicated coordination structure tasked with drafting the new Port Master Plan. The initiative, presented by Vincenzo Leone, the extraordinary commissioner of the Southern Adriatic Sea Port System Authority, aims to adapt Bari's port to modern demands for sustainability, innovation, and integration with the surrounding territory. The current Port Master Plan for Bari dates back to 1974, a period when the socioeconomic context and maritime transport dynamics were radically different.
"It is essential to swiftly align the Port of Bari with the new needs of the region, starting from a strategic vision that perfectly balances development with environmental respect," Leone explained during the presentation. The new plan aims to support traffic for the next fifty years while enhancing the hinterland and improving the relationship between the port and the city. "Fifty years on, it is time to equip Bari with a new master plan that can sustain future traffic and reconcile the city with its port," emphasised Ugo Patroni Griffi, the project coordinator.
The Planning Office, chaired by Secretary-General Tito Vespasiani, relies on two internal departments: the Technical Department, headed by Francesco Di Leverano, and the Operations Department, led by Pietro Bianco. Soon, specialised technical structures will also be added to ensure integrated and multidisciplinary planning. The main functions of the office include drafting and updating the Port Master Plan, a strategic document for infrastructure development, coordinating territorial planning with public authorities and local entities, promoting port and hinterland infrastructure projects, providing technical support for accessing national and European public funding, and implementing innovative systems for managing port operations and logistics.