Following their announcement of their candidacy to manage the new Darsena Europa container terminal at the Port of Livorno, MSC, Lorenzini, and Fratelli Neri reaffirmed their interest by meeting with the top executives of the Northern Tyrrhenian Sea Port System Authority on 28 January 2025. According to Port News, the Authority's official publication, the meeting was attended on the port authority side by ASP President and Special Commissioner Luciano Guerrieri, Deputy Commissioner Roberta Macii, Technical Director Enrico Pribaz, Administrative Director Simone Gagliani, and ASP Secretary General Matteo Paroli. Representing the business sector were Ennio and Dino Lorenzini for the Lorenzini company, Piero Neri and Maurizio Sardi for Fratelli Neri, and Paolo Maccarini for MSC.
Following the meeting, Guerrieri stated that it had been a constructive discussion on the development opportunities for the Tuscan port. He added that the initiative allowed the authority to provide their interlocutors with an update on the progress of public works. In this regard, Sidra, Fincantieri, Sales, and Fincosit are currently working to consolidate the areas of the first containment basin, where the new terminal is expected to be built.
Guerrieri further announced that dredging work and the construction of breakwaters would commence soon, paving the way for the creation of a third containment basin, which will host a ro-ro terminal. He noted that 12,000 drains have been installed so far, and preloading operations have been carried out for an additional 150,000 cubic metres. Meanwhile, consolidation is underway for the first 80,000 square metres of the containment basin. The president of the Authority expressed his hope to inaugurate the first yards within the next two years.
During the meeting, representatives of the consortium bidding to manage the terminal sought clarifications on the project. Deputy Commissioner Roberta Macii reaffirmed that the concession would be awarded through a public tender. Addressing the companies’ requests, she stated that the Authority would gather the necessary additional data and information in the coming days and would complete the necessary in-depth analysis to determine the feasible routes for awarding the concession.
Meanwhile, the TDT terminal at the Port of Livorno has lost the call of the service connecting Europe and the United States, operated by CMA CGM, OOCL, and Yang Ming, which have opted for Salerno and La Spezia as their Italian ports of call. However, the Tuscan port is expected to gain the West Med Shuttle service of the new Gemini alliance between Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd, which will also call at Tanger Med and Algeciras. Livorno will not lose its US route entirely, as it will be included in the Tex rotation of Hapag-Lloyd and Maersk from February, as well as in Zim’s service between Israel and New York.
