The new Genoa breakwater has taken a step forward with the final approval of an optimised layout by the Port Authority of the Mar Ligure Occidental (Western Ligurian Sea). The revision, presented jointly with the Government Commission for the reconstruction of Genoa, aims to cut construction times by nearly two years and set completion for December 2027.
The key innovation lies in the ability to carry out works in parallel that were originally conceived in sequence. This change will allow the infrastructure to become fully operational earlier and give the port a significant competitive advantage, both by accommodating larger vessels and by ensuring safer traffic management. The western basin, in particular, will benefit from an enlarged turning circle, increased from 450 to 550 metres, and a wider entrance channel, expanded from 138 to 235 metres, measures designed to make manoeuvring easier and safer in all conditions.
The revised plan also opens up new opportunities on land, with the option of creating a continuous quay line and expanding operational and storage areas. Project changes include reducing the T1 section, shifting the turning circle further east, eliminating the temporary T4 section and extending the T9 section. All these measures are designed to optimise space usage and enhance operational efficiency. However, the project will incur additional costs compared with the original estimate, reaching a total of 330 million euros, financed by the Government through Pnc-Prr funds.
The approval process included a review by the Technical Advisory Board, which issued a favourable opinion not only on the revised proposal but also on the solutions adopted to address the issues raised by the contractor. Additional works were recognised as necessary to adapt the project to seabed conditions and to guarantee greater structural strength. With the signing of the supplementary agreement, all previous claims were cancelled and a new, tightly scheduled timeline was set: the last caisson is to be installed by August 2027 and final completion is expected by December of the same year.
Matteo Paroli, president of the Port Authority of the Western Ligurian Sea, stressed that the result was the outcome of effective coordination and full alignment with the Government Commission, and that this milestone will equip the port and the entire national logistics system with a strategic, state-of-the-art infrastructure capable of delivering lasting competitive advantages and generating economic and employment benefits for the region. Carlo De Simone, deputy commissioner for the Reconstruction of Genoa, also underlined the significance of the revision, describing it as a crucial step to shorten timelines and strengthen the safety of port operations. According to De Simone, the new breakwater is not just an infrastructure project but a strategic investment that restores competitiveness to the port, enhances the entire national logistics system and creates new opportunities for the economy and employment.
