An interim meeting to present an up-to-date picture of the project’s progress and to assess how the construction and management of the terminal infrastructure can be allocated.
A meeting was held this morning at Palazzo Rosciano, the Port Network Authority’s headquarters, between Darsena Europa’s commissioning body and the company group led by MSC, which, on 7th January, had formalized an Expression Of Interest in being awarded the management of Livorno Port’s mega seaward expansion infrastucture.
Taking part were Paolo Maccarini, MSC’s top manager; Lorenzini terminal operator (with Ennio and Dino Lorenzini); Piero Neri and Maurizio Sardi (Fratelli Neri). The Commissioning Body was represented by Port Network Authority (PNA) President and Special Commissioner, Luciano Guerrieri, Deputy Commissioner Roberta Macii, Senior Technical Manager Enrico Pribaz, and Senior Administrative Manager Simone Gagliani, PNA Managing Director Matteo Paroli also attended.
“It was a fruitful discussion on the Tuscan port of call’s development opportunities. The initiative allowed us to provide an update on the state of progress of the project’s public infrastructure” said Mr. Guerrieri, pointing out how the companies who had secured the contract (Sidra, Fincantieri, Sales and Fincosit) are working tirelessly to consolidate the first containment basin area.
The objective is to have the first yards inaugurated within two years. “We have so far completed 12,000 drainage operations and carried out preloading operations over an additional 150,000m3, and the consolidation of the first 80,000m2 of the reclaimed land is currently in progress.”
As for Darsena Europa’s seaward facilities, Mr. Guerrieri explained that the dredging work and the construction of the outer breakwaters is due to start soon: “This will also allow us to build a third sludge containment basin, the one where the future Ro/Ro terminal envisaged in the second phase of the project will be built, and which will be used to collect all the dredged material.”
During the discussion, the group of companies made requests for clarification on the project’s design. “The meeting led to some mutual food for thought,’ explained Roberta Macii. “Over the next few days, we will be collecting the additional data and information that we have been asked to provide. We have reserved the right to complete the in-depth work necessary to identify the possible options for awarding the concession. Regardless of the option chosen, it will have to be through a public tender invitation.”
Translation by Giles Foster