The Port Network Authority of the Ionian Sea (AdSPMI) is the governing body of the Port of Taranto, established pursuant to and for the purposes of Law no. 84 of 28 January 1994 as amended by Legislative Decree no. 169 of 4 August 2016. With the entry into force of Legislative Decree no. 169 of 4 August 2016, the process of "Reorganisation, streamlining and simplification of the Port Authorities" initiated by the Government during 2015, as part of a broader path to revitalise policies and actions aimed at relaunching Italy's ports and logistics, became a reality.

The functional transition from Port Authority to System Authority marked a moment of structural and organisational renewal for Italian ports and, in this context of transformation, the AdSPMI has accepted the challenges identified by the Government, working to shape and enhance the concept of the "System". Today, the Authority identifies itself as the key player in the revival of the port and logistics system of the Ionian province by introducing a series of actions aimed at innovation, digitalisation, sustainability and the coordination of interventions to improve economic development related to the shipping sector. This process is associated with a commitment to spreading a renewed cultural identity made possible by the revitalised port-city combination that is giving rise to new visions of development in Taranto.

The new activities of the AdSPMI (see the Three-Year Operational Plan 2023-2025) support the promotion of the port worldwide and the diversification of traffic through involvement in a more general process of relaunching the industrial-logistics system in Taranto and the tourist system by aligning the Authority's actions with the promotional strategy implemented at regional, national and international level with a view to driving the entire local economy.