The port of Savona approached the cruise world on tip toe: in 1996, the port Authority decided to dedicate to cruise ships an old quay, positioned right in front of the city centre, realising a small but functional maritime station in an old port warehouse.
Launched in November 1996, the highly functional Calata delle Vele terminal met a remarkable success and in 1997 the traffic volume surpassed 100,000 passengers.
In the same years the Port Authority realised a Ro-Ro terminal in Vado Ligure, which has been run by Forship since 1998. The Corsica Ferries ships connect Vado to Corsica (with up to 4 services per day during summer), reaching a traffic volume of over 350,000 passengers/year.
A giant step has been made in 2002, when the Port Authority and Costa Crociere joined their forces to develop the cruise terminal.
The works were started in June 2002 and completed during the summer of 2003. The new terminal was launched on November 24th 2003.
During 2004, first fully opearting year, 191 cruise ships berthed at the terminal, for a total traffic of over 530,000 passengers.
As soon as the first strengthening phase was finished, new projects for the development of the terminal have been disposed by the Port Authority and Costa. The first objective is the arrangement of a third dedicated quay.
The final project includes the transfer of the shipyards today present on Calata delle Vele and the rectilinear adjustment of the internal side of the quay, in order to obtain a new 325 m berth.
With the aim to host the increasing number of passengers, the Palacrociere will also be enlarged, and the parking areas dedicated to guest cars and buses will be enhanced.
These initiatives marked a significant upturn in Savona’s history, as they launched the province towards a new development phase, based on waterfront revitalization, environment respect and quality of life improvement.
Furthermore, the many tourists transiting through Savona (the million passenger target is at hand) represent an amazing development opportunity for the commerce and the tourism sectors, and a valuable vehicle of the province’s new image all over the world.
