The port
Strategically located at the top end of the Adriatic sea, at the intersection of the main European transport corridors and of the Motorways of the Seas (MoS), the Port of Venice is in a position to act as the European gateway for trade flows to and from Asia.
Port of Venice. Where the Earth revolves around the Sea
Sixteen centuries of joint development
The history of Venice is closely linked to the history of its port, the source of its artistic greatness and wealth.
The Adriatic regains its central role
The Port of Venice's position means it can act as the main entry point to a vast area of Central Europe - including amongst others North-Eastern Italy, Austria and Bayern - in addition to Eastern Europe and some of the European Union's most dynamic markets.
The Port of Venice is also located at the intersection of three main European corridors:
- Helsinki – Valletta Corridor;
- Mediterranean Sea Corridor;
- Adriatic – Baltic corridor.
The Port of Venice is also the northernmost terminal of the Motorways of the Sea that cross the Eastern Mediterranean and connect Central Europe with North Africa and the Middle East.
The Port of Venice's strengths
The Port of Venice is one of the major European ports for project and general cargo, and one of the main port in the Adriatic for the number of containers handled.
In addition, it ranks as the first cruise homeport in the Mediterranean hosting 2,3 million passengers yearly.
A leader in many traffic segments, it is the only port in Italy to benefit from a river port providing freight transport by barge along the Po river.
Venice's commercial port
A container mother vessel entering the Port of Venice
A constantly developing port
In the Planning Period 2008-2011 the Port expects to invest Eur 870 M: EUR 367 M will be allocated to enhance existing port infrastructure, EUR 174 M to expand its facilities, EUR 52 M to improve connections to road and railroad connections, EUR 277.5 M to dredge the port's channels and for remediation and disposal of sludge.
The following are also in the pipeline to expand the port to facilitate its future development:
- a new container terminal at Marghera;
- a Motorways of the Seas terminal at Fusina;
- an off-shore terminal to enable access to ships with a draught up to 20 metres and to keep oil-tankers out of the Venice lagoon.
The Port is very sensitive to environmental issues and is committed to many projects for reducing its environmental impact. A remarkable reduction of CO2 emissions is achieved by choosing Venice rather than a north European port to transport cargo between the Far East and Central Europe.
Venice, intersection of European Corridors