Port traffic

The joint organisation of promotion activities on the part of the Ligurian ports stems from the firmly-rooted perception of a port system which, in addition to the provision of the full range of high quality services, can offer three seaports strategically located within a 150 km range.

Historically, the Liguria Region benefits from its natural geographic position as the logical Southern European gateway for cargo moving to/from the major consumer and industrial centres in Northern Italy, Switzerland, Southern Germany, Austria and Eastern France.

In fact, the Italian law of port reform 84/94, which indicates “port promotion” as one of the key activities of the newly established Port Authorities, accelerated the process of integration between the three ports which in 1998 formed the “Ligurian Ports” alliance to foster its image worldwide as the Mediterranean’s premier maritime hub equipped to satisfy all customer requirements.

Today the Ports of Savona, Genoa and La Spezia offer over 50 terminals, operated by private port management companies, equipped to handle all classes of ships and cater for the full range of commodity sectors (containers, general cargo, perishable goods, steel, forest products, solid and liquid bulk, petroleum products, cruise and ferry passengers). In addition, the ports guarantee an extensive selection of vital back-up services, from ship maintenance and repair to ship provisions and telecommunications and data processing.

To date, in terms of total throughput, the three ports handle approximately 93 million tons per annum, whilst container traffic has now risen to over 3.3 million teus.

In addition, with a 4.4 million passenger count, the Ligurian ports rank as a major tourist destination in the Mediterranean basin.

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