On April 3, 2024, the State-Regions Conference approved the decree from the Ministry of Transportation, allocating €206,850,278 for the development of Pier VIII at the Port of Trieste. The forthcoming phase involves launching a tender for the company that will co-finance, construct, and manage the new terminal. The project will be realized through project financing, where a private investor is expected to contribute an additional €109 million to reach the total projected cost of €315,850,278.
The German terminal operator Hhla, which already operates in the Julian port through its subsidiary Hhla Plt Italy managing the multi-purpose Piattaforma Logistica Terminal adjacent to Pier VIII, is likely to be at the forefront. Another potential candidate could be Msc, which also has a presence in Trieste with an 80% stake in the company managing the Trieste Marine Terminal at Pier VII. However, it's possible that the two entities won’t be in direct competition, given Msc's recent investment in Hhla.
Pier VIII will include a container terminal with a capacity of 500,000 TEU, with its first phase expected to become operational by 2025. It will feature a 400-meter-long quay and a depth of 17 meters, capable of accommodating container ships above 20,000 TEU. To facilitate on-ground container movement, the current ro-ro berth may be relocated, while the rail transport terminal might be moved to the area of the former Ferriera, within the Logistics Platform’s vicinity.
