The recreational boating industry demands more space for Genoese ship repairs.

In 2021, Genoa's professional nautical sector generated a total economic impact of €341 million in the region, generating nearly 2 jobs. Over 60% of this economic impact was due to the mooring, refit, maintenance, and services of vessels over 50 meters in length (but with a significant peak for vessels over 75 meters), highlighting how the size of recreational vessels influences their ability to generate income. These are some of the findings from the study conducted for the third consecutive year by The European House – Ambrosetti and presented at the assembly of Genova for Yachting, an association currently comprising 58 companies.

These significant figures, however, highlight a downward trend compared to 2019 (€369 million, or -7,8%) and 2020 (€354 million, or -3,6%), primarily driven by the lower number of superyacht transits and stays in Genoa during 2021. This decrease is due both to the Covid-19 pandemic and, starting in October 2021, to the restriction on the movement of non-EU seafarers, which significantly contributed to the reduction in the transit and stays of yachts up to 75 meters in length in Genoa, with obvious negative consequences for the related industries.

According to the president of Genova For Yachting, Giovanni Costaguta, we're talking about "a sector and an excellence that we would like to see recognized in the next Port Master Plan, with new spaces and infrastructure dedicated to large yachts."

This sentiment is shared by Alberto Amico, head of the Amico & Co shipyard and spokesperson for Genova for Yachting, who believes that "the sector's growth potential and the benefits for the city are evident. These activities, which have become a cornerstone of the port and city's development, require new spaces and infrastructure, moorings and docks, as well as workshops with adequate logistics." Amico then added: "The companies are ready to do their part, but strategic decisions must be shared with the Port System Authority."

Genoa's mayor, Marco Bucci, has a long-term vision for the Ligurian capital's shipbuilding industry, not limiting the expansion of ship repairs in Genoa's historic port, but rather expanding this business segment with the construction of not just one, but perhaps three new dry docks in Sestri Ponente. Speaking at the meeting of the Genova for Yachting association, he stated: "We want this business to grow. We will never move the docks; there's even a restriction from the superintendency that prohibits them. We're building a 400-meter one in Sestri Ponente next to Fincantieri, and it will be awarded through a competitive tender by the Port Authority. We need two more 400-meter ones."

He then added: “We have other programs in Sampierdarena. In the Porto Petroli area we could place them there (the additional new basins, ed) and we're working on it." This 'invasion of the field' in the organization of port spaces is justified by the fact that the redesign of the port in view of the new Port Master Plan will be carried out in agreement between the Municipality and the Port System Authority, between which at the moment there does not yet appear to be an agreement.

"One of the studies commissioned in preparation for the new master plan will help identify what additional spaces can be allocated to recreational boating," said Port Authority President Paolo Emilio Signorini, who also said he sees "a possibility for expansion for boating in the Levante area (i.e., in Sampierdarena, ed.). It remains to be seen whether more can be done in Sestri Ponente or Voltri-Prà, but I see greater possibilities in the Levante area."

Probably taking advantage of the breakwater's relocation further offshore: "To the east, if we move the breakwater forward, we could advance nautical activities seaward. We'll see what's compatible with what." Filling in the waterways along what is currently the navigable access channel to the historic port is what Confindustria Genova hopes for the port's future redesign.

Beniamino Maltese, vice president of Confindustria Genova with responsibility for the maritime economy, emphasized that the Ligurian capital's ship repair sector "increasingly needs a well-equipped logistics center and less and less docks." He was referring specifically to the superyacht sector and the naval sector with regard to retrofits (not new construction).

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