OVER 10 HECTARES ON THE NORTH CANAL IN PORTO MARGHERA WHERE THE NEW CRUISE STATION WILL BE BUILT, WITH TWO BERTHS FOR SHIPS UP TO 300 METERS IN LENGTH

AWARDED TO NBI S.P.A.-WEBUILD GROUP AN €18.5 MILLION COLD IRONING WORK, FINAL PROJECT AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STUDY FOR THE NEW TERMINAL AND RELATED MOORINGS IS UNDERWAY

Venice, July 10, 2024 – After a process begun a year and a half ago, the Northern Adriatic Sea Port Authority, the Cruise Commissioner in Venice, and APV Investimenti S.p.A.– an in-house company of the AdSPMAS – have signed a preliminary agreement for the acquisition from the ‘Società Intermodale Marghera S.R.L.’ of the area located on the North Canal- North Bank, covering over 10 hectares and including the surrounding buildings. The area, which the Italian Government, with Legislative Decree 103/2021 and subsequent implementing decrees, has designated as the site for the future passenger terminal, complete with all related services and two temporary landing stages for passenger ships up to 300 metres in length. The land, located on macro-island 1 of the Porto Marghera industrial zone, will be acquired for approximately €16 million.

The signed agreement commits each of the three entities – AdSPMAS, the Commissioner for Cruises in Venice, and APVI – to acquire a portion of the land owned by the company headed by entrepreneur Marco Salmini for the implementation of projects within their respective areas of responsibility.

In the area surveyed by the CCV, regarding the portion designated for the New Cruise Terminal, the technical and economic feasibility study, already completed, envisions the creation of two berths for ships up to 300 metres. In a first phase, starting with the 2027 cruise season, the area will be equipped with two berths modeled after those already operational for temporary berths created by the Venice Cruise Commissioner in 2022 in compliance with Legislative Decree 103/2021, which required the implementation of a new model for cruise shipping in Venice. The new passenger terminal is also expected to be operational for the 2028 cruise season. The future cruise terminal, designed on two levels, will occupy a surface area of ​​approximately 12,000 square metres and will be equipped with state-of-the-art systems for the production of energy from renewable sources. The terminal will also include arrivals lounges and baggage claim, serving the two ships that will dock at the new wharf. Barrier works are also planned to ensure environmental safety in the area, continuing the section already completed by the Public Works Department. The project will also include the spaces to be designated as a border crossing, complete with offices for law enforcement and control, protected pedestrian paths, and dedicated roads for heavy vehicles used to refuel ships. The estimated cost of the work in this project phase is over €67 million.

Based on the feasibility study, starting Monday, July 15, the Consortium for Maritime Works Engineering (CIOOMM) will begin the final project and environmental impact assessment of the first and second landing stages and the passenger terminal (including surveys and investigations), detailed project, construction management, safety coordination during the project phase, and safety coordination during the execution phase. The contract value is over €5.2 million.

As part of its strategy to reduce atmospheric emissions and develop cold ironing, the Veneto Authority recently awarded NBI S.p.A. – Webuild Group an €18.5 million contract to supply and install cable ducts and install dockside electrification systems to power cruise ships docked at the two temporary berths. These infrastructure projects, scheduled for completion in 2026, are financed through the Next Generation EU fund. The allocation of NRRP funds for the North Canal area amounts to €29 million, in addition to the €23.6 million earmarked for the Marittima area to accommodate smaller cruise ships, for a total of €52.6 million.

According to plans, APVI, acting on the instructions of ADSPMAS, will build a parking lot in the approximately 40,000 square metre portion of the surveyed area, primarily serving cruise ship operations.

“We are implementing Decree 103/2021, shaping the future of sustainable cruise tourism in Venice,” says Fulvio Lino Di Blasio, Special Commissioner for Cruises in Venice and President of AdSPMAS. The acquisition of the area provides a concrete basis for the development of long-term passenger transport planning and the promotion of employment in the port area. This sector is now linked to Porto Marghera and, in particular, to the North Industrial Canal, as established by the Government in agreement with the Region. The important award for cold ironing and the start of the final project of the two berths and the future maritime terminal further demonstrate that we are moving toward the implementation of the projects envisioned in the commissioner’s program for this area. Meanwhile, in full compliance with the procedures, we are continuing with both the ideas competition and the technical and economic feasibility study and environmental impact study for the Vittorio Emanuele maintenance dredging. This project, which, as early as October of this year, may be subjected to the Environmental Impact Assessment and Evaluation of the Impact Assessment, procedures.