Italy: The Port of Venice is planning an offshore platform 10 kilometres off the Malamocco port mouth at a cost of US$1.8 billion (EUR1.3 billion) where the seabed has a natural depth of 20 metres.
The offshore terminal just off the Port of Venice will berth larger ships and will bring both economic and environmental benefits.
The offshore terminal will allow ultra-large ships to call at the Port of Venice without having to dredge the existing lagoon channels.
It will also be possible to distribute goods to the European and Italian markets exploiting the most convenient land port, according to the port authority.
The terminal is expected to become the central link between the existing logistics centres and the maritime traffic generated by global trade.
The offshore platform will mainly handle oil, bulk, and container traffic.
The transport of petroleum will be managed through pipelines that will link the terminal to the coast. As a result oil tankers will be kept out of the lagoon, as specified in the special law for Venice.
The new terminal will be able to berth ships with deeper draughts and it will also help the logistics platform and terminals in Marghera to handle containers.
The offshore terminal will create new jobs and benefit the economy, and will also help the environment. It has been estimated that choosing the Port of Venice means to spend five less days at sea, and to cut carbon dioxide emissions, reduce the need to dredge the port channels and increase the safety of navigation in the lagoon.