by InTrieste
Interviews: Antonio Gurrieri, Special Commissioner of the Port Authority of the Eastern Adriatic Sea; Andrea Mariotto, Avventura urbana, head of project
The Port of Trieste has launched its largest infrastructure initiative to date with the announcement of a €316 million container terminal project at Molo VIII. The plan, backed by a public-private partnership, also marks a regional first: the introduction of a formal public debate process, offering residents and stakeholders the opportunity to weigh in before final approvals.
The project was presented on Monday at the Torre del Lloyd, headquarters of the Port Authority of the Eastern Adriatic Sea, which is leading the development alongside private partners HHLA PLT Italy S.r.l., Logistica Giuliana S.r.l., and ICOP S.p.A.
The terminal will be built across a 17-hectare area—15 hectares on land and 2 on a newly constructed quay—and is designed to eventually handle up to 1.6 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) annually. In its first phase, the facility will be capable of moving 450,000 containers per year.
Of the total €315.8 million investment, €206.8 million will come from public funding, including contributions from Italy’s Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport and Ministry of Economy and Finance. The remaining €109 million will be provided by the private sector.
“This is a decisive moment that will reshape the port,” said Antonio Gurrieri, special commissioner of the Port Authority, during the press conference. “It’s a dose of optimism that will benefit not only the port’s operators but also industries and businesses throughout the region.”
The public debate—a process now required by Italian law for projects of national significance—will span the next four months, with four public meetings scheduled on July 1, 8, 15, and 23. Local governments, business groups, and residents are invited to participate and submit feedback.
The Molo VIII expansion is one of the most significant ongoing port developments in Italy, with the potential to strengthen Trieste’s position as a strategic logistics hub in the northern Adriatic.
