PORT OF TARANTO, 05 NOVEMBER 2024 - The Management Committee of the Port Network Authority of the Ionian Sea, as a result of today's meeting, has unanimously expressed a favourable opinion on the application for a maritime state concession pursuant to Art. 36 of the Navigation Code by VESTAS BLADES ITALIA S.r.l. -UNIPERSONALE for the nine-year use of the facility named “Piastra Portuale di Taranto” (Taranto Port Platform).
For Vestas, the use of the infrastructure represents the logistics completion to support the new production line of blades for the world's largest turbine (the VESTAS V236, with 15 MW) 115.5 metres long. This logistical us - integrated in the port area - as well as the strategic importance of the existing railway line and its terminal connecting the platform with the production cycle of the Company’s plant, together with the supply of imported raw materials at the Port of Taranto will also lead to a significant reduction in emissions from road transport.
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More specifically, the initiative proposed by Vestas Blades Italia s.r.l., following the evaluation by the Committee in charge of analysing and comparing the applications received as part of the competition, was already found to be consistent and in line with the strategic objectives of the Authority and the Port of Taranto, as being also aligned with the goal of establishing a hub for the assembly and finishing of components for offshore wind energy production. In addition, the Company’s proposal was selected because it was characterised by concrete elements with a valuablesustainability plan in terms of social, environmental and economic benefits. Additional reasons cited by the Committee included the Company's commitment to consolidating a significant organisational and management structure with a relevant financial investment aimed at developing production and logistics activities at the Port of Taranto, bringing benefits to the area in terms of socio-economic and employability outcomes, with the intention to also employ staff from the Taranto Port Workers Agency s.r.l.Today, the Management Committee of the Port Network Authority of the Ionian Sea completed the authorisation process, which now needs to be finalised between the Parties in order to soon reach the signing of the formal concession agreement.
"With this concession, " said Sergio Prete, President of the Port Network Authority of the Ionian Sea, " Vestas Blades Italia s.r.l., by expanding its production capacity and presence in domestic and foreign markets, will consolidate the role of the Port of Taranto as a hub for the logistics and export of wind turbine parts plants. The start of the operational management of the strategic “Logistics Platform” will also contribute to the growth of maritime and intermodal transport as well as provide further impetus to an important sustainable logistics chain, benefiting economic and employment development. With its new role as concessionaire the Port of Taranto, Vestas will have the opportunity to concretely support the diversification strategy that sees the Ionian port of Taranto as a natural candidate for becoming a hub for the production and logistics related to renewable energy production plants”.
The President of the Apulia Region, Michele Emiliano, expressed satisfaction too, because "with this decision, the Logistics Platform of the Port of Taranto restarts operations. As a key logistics hub within the Scandinavian-Mediterranean corridor of the Trans-European Network-Transport (Ten-T), the Ionian Port will enable the realisation of the vision of a sustainable and intermodal logistic system identified as the goal of the Regional Plan for Logistics and Freight. Furthermore, the port of Taranto will significantly contribute to the ecological transition of both the Apulia region and the whole country, with important investments and employment prospects”.
Rinaldo Melucci, Mayor of Taranto and President of the Province of Taranto, said: "We are extremely satisfied with the unanimous decision of the Management Committee of the Port Network Authority of the Ionian Sea to grant Vestas Blades Italia s.r.l. the maritime state concession for the use of the “Taranto Port Platform”. This represents an important step forward for our city, in line with the strategic objectives of sustainable development and enhancement of our port. The use of this infrastructure by Vestas, supporting the production of the world's largest wind turbines, serves not only to strengthes the position of the Port as a logistic hub, but also to contribute significantly to the reduction of road transport emissions, thus perfectly integrating production activities with our railway network and making the city a benchmark for innovation and sustainability in the energy sector. This project represents a concrete example of how economic development and environmental sustainability can be combined, also offering new job opportunities and growth for the territory".
"Today's concession," said the Harbour MasterRosario Meo - represents another step forward for the green re-launch of the entire port infrastructure. Suchresult was achieved thanks to the consolidated synergy between the Maritime Authority and the Port Network Authority and all the institutional and port stakeholders of the Ionian port, which will contribute to further strengthen its levels of competitiveness and efficiency".