The construction of the first of 100 caissons, which will form Genoa’s New Open-Sea Breakwater, takes shape on board the “Dario” floating dock positioned in the Port of Vado Ligure.
In accordance with the project timeline, the perimeter of the working space at the dock for the preparation of the reinforced concrete cellular casissons, - up to 33 metres high, 35 metres wide and 67 metres long, - has been completed; whilst the first caisson, set to be installed on the giant gravel columns sunk into the seabed in the Genoa-Sampierdarena basin, will shortly be precast and assembled on the floating dock. Furthermore, works are underway in Vado Ligure to assemble the crane which will be positioned on an additional floating dock, the Tronds Barge 33, specifically equipped for the construction of the larger caissons. Upon completion by May, the floating caisson will be towed to the Port of Genoa, where it will positioned upon the gravel columns.
Over 1,000 people work, directly and indirectly, in the construction of the Genoa’s New Open-Sea Breakwater and, to date, over 80 companies have been contracted to work on the project. Commissioned by the Western Ligurian Sea Port Authority, this major infrastructure facility will play a strategic role in the local, Italian and European economy. Co-funded by the government, with resources released by the PNRR (National Recovery and Resilience Plan) Complementary Fund, the breakwater has been designed to improve accessibility to the Port of Genoa by sea and to consolidate the strategic role of the city-port within the Rhine-Alpine corridor of the TEN-T Trans-European network. The 6,200-metre New Genoa Breakwater, a unique sophisticated feat of engineering, will replace the existing structure further out at sea, to ensure safe access to the port by the ultra-large vessels which require wider navigation channels and turning basins and which, to date, are subject to restrictions.
