The Italian port Porto Alti Fondali in Manfredonia is poised to enter a new phase of growth and infrastructure renewal, thanks to the joint efforts of public institutions and private enterprises. The start of work to remove disused conveyor belts, announced in early April 2025, marks a symbolic yet concrete step towards this goal, reinforcing the port’s strategic role in southern Italy’s logistics and intermodal transport network. The ongoing operations represent the first stage in a redevelopment process involving two companies affiliated with Confapi, both long established in the Manfredonia port environment: Sidap and Agenzia Marittima de Girolamo.
The two firms operate across a combined surface area of around 50,000 square metres, one-third of which is made up of warehouses and other covered spaces. Their activities include customs formalities, health and port inspections, and above all the handling of all types of goods, from dry and liquid bulk to packaged goods and complex industrial installations. With a focus on ever more advanced intermodality, Sidap and Agenzia Marittima de Girolamo play a key role in managing inbound and outbound flows, encompassing ship loading and unloading, transport to warehouses, packaging, and final delivery. Their handling capacity exceeds 200 tonnes per hour for bulk and packaged goods, and reaches up to 60 tonnes per hour for goods that require bagging.
Alongside this private initiative, a programme of investment promoted by the Foggia ASI Consortium and the Port Authority of the Southern Adriatic Sea is taking shape. Confapi Foggia sees this as a crucial precondition for the port’s future. The shared goal is to establish Manfredonia as a logistical hub not only for the Capitanata area but also for neighbouring regions such as Molise, Basilicata and Irpinia.
However, as emphasised by Paola Parisi, president of Confapi Foggia, the real impact of these investments will depend on the active involvement of companies already successfully operating within the port. A clear example is the contribution of Sidap and the De Girolamo family to the logistics of wind turbine components: their facilities were recently used for the storage of blades supplied by Vestas, a global leader in wind turbine manufacturing.
Within the framework of integrated port development, the project to reactivate the railway link is of particular importance. It is seen as vital to effectively connect port and hinterland areas with the main Adriatic and Tyrrhenian transport corridors. This initiative would strengthen the logistics chain, reduce handling times, and expand the port’s catchment area. Confapi Foggia has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting all public and private initiatives aimed at enhancing this strategic infrastructure.
