TRIESTE – The Senate has approved today, with amendments, the conversion into law of the decree-law 20 July 2021 for urgent measures to protect waterways of cultural interest and preserve Venice. There were 175 votes in favour and 8 against: the text now passes to the Chamber of Deputies, which will examine it in September after the summer break.
As of 1 August, the new law prohibits the transit of large ships in St Mark’s Basin, St Mark’s Canal, and the Giudecca Canal. It also provides the construction of temporary berthing points in Marghera, maintenance work on existing canals and additional measures to improve nautical accessibility and navigation safety.
The Commissions have proposed amendments to ensure that the first berths are ready by 2022 and strengthen worker protection.
Meanwhile, a joint note by Duferco Italia Holding, together with Dp Consulting and Norwegian Cruise (Nclh), re-proposes the project for the berthing of “large ships” in Venice. The proposal refers to a project that has already undergone an environmental impact assessment by the current Ministry for Ecological Transition.
The terminal would be built at the bocca di Porto Lido, with a 644-metre quay (150 metres less than the original hypothesis) for the berthing of two latest-generation cruise ships on one side only. Construction time would be 18 months from the conclusion of the authorisation process.