Presentation

The Port of La Spezia was forerunner in the creation of private terminals, practising the criteria of economy and efficiency. Despite a lay out which cannot accommodate all demands of the market, in 2006 the port reached a throughput of 19.4 million tons, handling 1,187,040 teu.
Thanks to its direct link with the Tyrrhenian-Brenner and coastal motorways, the port is situated in a strategic position as regards the industrial areas of northern Italy. Located on the coast between Genoa and Leghorn, the port of La Spezia serves the markets of the Padana Valley, Switzerland, Austria and Bavaria.

Because of the high utilisation of rail transport, the port of la Spezia belongs to the first three European ports as regards intermodal technology: in 2007 32% of the traffic was moved by rail, for a total of more than 315,000 teu. Besides, La Spezia is linked with over 200 ports all over the world, with weekly lines to Asia, North and South America, Europe, Africa and Middle East.

Inside of a 150 hectares bay, protected from a 1,300 metres seawall which allows to easy operate by all weather conditions, the Port of La Spezia has over 5 km of quays and 575,000 sqm available areas with 17,000 metres rail trucks, 3,500 metres roads and draughts up to 14 metres.

Terminals cranes lifting capacities are up to 100 tonnes and there are covered warehouses for 13,000 sqm..
Pilots, mooring and towage operations ensure ship movements 24 hours a day every day of the year. In the Port of La Spezia, two container terminals, three multipurpose terminals, one coal terminal, two oil products terminals, one LGP terminal, one grain terminal, one solid bulk terminal and 2 cement terminals are operative.

Thanks to the new Master Plan’s provisions, now definitively approved, the Port of La Spezia will be able to optimize its potential. Not only container traffic infrastructures will be strengthened, but also port facilities for passenger traffic will be developed, since the big growth of this sector in the Med.

Also, intermodal transport will be increased, in order to handle by rail 50% of container traffic by strengthening the rail terminal of S. Stefano Magra. At the same time, the rationalisation of the shipbuilding sector will be carried out, in order to increase its competitiveness on the markets. The new Master Plan foresees interventions to improve yachting facilities as well, by offering new and more valuable services for boat tourism in the Gulf, while a particular attention will be dedicated to traditional activities (mussel and fish farming).