Ravenna News

Energy storage group VTTI will get a 70% stake in Italy's biggest liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal, with grid operator Snam owning the rest, the Milan-listed group said on Wednesday, announcing a deal to be finalised by year-end.Snam, which is controlled by the Italian government, said in a statement it had exercised its pre-emption right to increase its stake in the infrastructure dubbed Adriatic LNG to 30% from 7.3%.The move comes after ExxonMobil and QatarEnergy last week agreed to sell their stakes in the terminal to a consortium led by Dutch group VTTI.

Snam has finalized the 400 million euro acquisition of a new floating liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal that will be located offshore from the city of Ravenna, the Italian gas grid operator said on Monday.The new ship dubbed BW Singapore has a storage capacity of about 170,000 cubic meters of liquefied natural gas and a regasification capacity of about 5 billion cubic meters per year and will help Italy to diversify its energy supplies.The floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) is expected to start operations in 2025.That will follow the conclusion of the related permitting and reg

Italian gas grid operator Snam will invest 1 billion euros ($1.1 billion) in a new LNG offshore terminal near Ravenna, the company's CEO said on Tuesday.The floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) will add to another LNG terminal already set up in Tuscany, increasing Italy's gas import capacity and reducing dependence from its traditional suppliers, including Russia."To increase energy security for Italy we decided last year, together with the government, to increase the country's LNG import capacity in order to have more flexibility and diversify energy supplies…

Italy plans to boost its liquefied natural gas (LNG) import capacity to 27 billion cubic metres (bcm) from nearly 17 bcm currently as it seeks to completely replace Russian gas supplies following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.In 2021, Moscow provided Rome with 29 bcm of gas via pipelines, equal to around 40% of Italy's total imports but Russian supplies have fallen in recent months to around 10% of total imports. Italy, which can now count on three LNG terminals, has mandated gas grid operator Snam SRG.MI to buy and set up two additional floating storage and regasification units (FSRU) near the cities of Piombino and Ravenna.A timely start for the Piombino FSRU is crucial to allow Italy to fill gas storage facilities in time for winter 2023…

Italian gas grid operator Snam confirmed on Thursday its guidance for full-year net profit after reporting a rise of 10% in nine-month revenue to 2.4 billion euros ($2.41 billion). The state-controlled group said it planned to boost Italy's gas storage and transport facilities after getting the go-ahead to set up two new LNG terminals. The new floating LNG terminals and investments in gas infrastructure are part of a broader effort by the Italian government to replace dwindling Russian gas supplies and keep a lid on energy costs. The gas grid operator reported a decline of 9% in gas consumption by the industrial sector between January and September, in a sign that companies in Italy have cut activity in the face of high commodity prices and supply difficulties.

Italy's Emilia Romagna region has approved a project for a new floating LNG terminal off the coast of Ravenna in the upper Adriatic sea, it said on Monday, part of the country's broader efforts to replace dwindling Russian gas supplies. Almost one billion euros ($998 million) in total will be invested in the project, Emilia Romagna's Economic Development Councillor Vincenzo Colla told a news conference. The clearance took only about four months to be secured -- rather than years for similar projects in the past. As part of its energy strategy, Italy is adding two floating storage and regasification units (FSRU) to its existing three facilities. One will be off Ravenna, the other moored in the Tuscan port of Piombino on the other coast.

San Marino Ship Register said it has hired Rear Admiral Giovanni Greco to develop institutional relations and national maritime legislation.A graduate of the Genoa Nautical Institute, R. Adm. Greco’s career started on board merchant ships in Europe, the United States, the Persian Gulf, and the Far East. In 1991, he joined the Italian Coast Guard until his retirement in May 2022. During his service, he was harbor master in Fano, Ortona, Crotone, and Vice Commandant in Ravenna.

Cruise line Azamara has officially added Azamara Onward vessel to its now four-ship fleet on Tuesday, following a festive naming ceremony in Monte Carlo. The christening ceremony was led by the President of Azamara, Carol Cabezas, and Azamara Onward Godmother, Beth Santos, founder and CEO of global community and lifestyle brand Wanderful."We are thrilled to introduce Azamara Onward and share this special moment with our loyal guests," said Carol Cabezas, President of Azamara.

Dubai-based global ports operator DP World has taken a 44% stake in Frenkendorf-headquartered Swissterminal Holding, the container terminal operator in Switzerland.The parties have agreed not to disclose financial details of the transaction.Swissterminal, which is headquartered in Frenkendorf close to Basel, operates additional locations in Zurich-Niederglatt, Basel-Birsfelden, Basel-Kleinhueningen and Liestal. The terminals are well connected to Europe’s leading container ports in Rotterdam and Antwerp as well as the ports of La Spezia, Genoa, Ravenna and Trieste south of the Alps.DP World has grown from its roots in Jebel Ali Port…

Contship Italia Group confirms its intermodal vocation, both for continental and maritime cargo – and for the latter, a collaboration between Terminal Container Ravenna (TCR) and Hannibal will offer an intermodal opportunity for the territory of Ravenna.Local companies that have developed business in northern Europe during 2019 – and with Rotterdam in particular, have already seized the new connection as an opportunity.The link will be made available by Contship Italia Group’s MTO Hannibal, connecting Ravenna with central an northern Europe through RHM – Rail Hub Milano, the intermodal platform located in Melzo (Milan).Intermodal activity is becoming a service of great value for TCR – the gateway is in fact equipped with five rail tracks…

Italian oil group Eni is joining forces with compatriot shipbuilder Fincantieri, power grid group Terna and state lender Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP) to develop wave power stations.The Chief Executive Officers of the companies have signed a non-binding agreement today at the Eni headquarters in the EUR district of Rome to develop and build wave power stations on an industrial scale.The agreement seeks to combine the knowledge of the collective companies to transform the Inertial Sea Wave Energy Converter (ISWEC) pilot project into a project on an industrial scale for immediate application and use. ISWEC is the innovative system that converts energy generated by waves into electricity.

Italian multinational oil and gas company Eni has activated the Inertial Sea Wave Energy Converter (ISWEC), offshore Ravenna, capable of converting energy generated by waves into electricity, which will in the future enable Eni to convert mature offshore platforms into renewable energy generation hubs.The pilot plant was installed at the Ravenna offshore site by Eni’s Central Northern District and has been integrated into a hybrid smart grid system featuring photovoltaics and energy storage.It reached a peak power output of over 51 kW, or 103% of its nominal power. This technology is suitable for powering medium and large offshore assets and…

International law firm Watson Farley & Williams (WFW) said in a statement that it advised Italy's Armamento Setramar, part of the Setramar Group, on the sale of its vessel Pietro Benedetti.The 9,800 dwt multipurpose vessel, designed for the transportation of general and project cargoes, was sold to a Finnish company, said WFW.WFW advised on the negotiation of related documentation and the establishment of an escrow acount for the release of the sale price.The WFW Italy Maritime team advising Armamento Setramar was led by Partner Furio Samela, assisted by senior associate, Michele Autuori. London partner George Macheras advised on the English law aspects of the transaction.Setramar Group is a Ravenna-based port and shipping group operating in the port and inland logistics…

Contship Italia Group has been pulling all the stops to increase its intermodal offering during the past months.Italy’s leading service provider for integrated global supply chains said that its Rail Hub Milano (RHM) and its gateway ports La Spezia and Ravenna serve as backbone of the Group’s growing intermodal network.La Spezia is geographically located within a range of 320 km from the key economic regions in Italy, accounting for over 47% of the total Italian GDP. RHM is located in Melzo, just outside the city of Milan at the heart of consumer and industrial regions. Ravenna is the natural gateway for East Med flows exchanged via the Adriatic Sea, the Italian container terminal operator said.This year has seen numerous service additions from RHM to various locations across Europe.

The European Sea Ports Organisation congratulates Prof. Kurt Bodewig on his nomination as European Coordinator for Motorways of the Sea and is looking forward to a fruitful cooperation to further enhance the European maritime transport dimension and the role of European ports within the future Connecting Europe Facility and the TEN-T network.The European Commission appointed three new TEN-T Corridor Coordinators, while the mandate of eight Coordinators has been extended.European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) also welcomes the nomination of Ms Iveta Radičová for the Mediterranean Corridor and Ms Anne Elisabet Jensen for the Baltic–Adriatic…

Natalia A container ship that belongs to Turkish ARKAS shipping line is docked in Contship Ravenna – the Contship Italia Group gateway on the Adriatic Sea. The Natalia A is deployed on the ADS service (Adriatic Service) that connects Ravenna with Istanbul, Gemlik, Piraeus, Izmir, Beirut, Mersin, Aleksandria and Lattakia, on a weekly basis. “We are delighted to see that a shipping line such as Arkas has chosen the Ravenna Terminal as a partner to expand container traffic, offering fundamental connections with Turkey, Lebanon, Egypt, Greece and Syria” explain Giannantonio Mingozzi (President of the Terminal) and Riccardo Sabadini (President of Sapir).

International law firm Watson Farley & Williams (WFW) advised three leading Italian shipowners -Rimorchiatori Mediterranei, Gesmar and Fratelli Neri – on their partnership agreement with Thessaloniki-based Greek maritime operator Gigilinis Shipping Group. The deal closed on 29 November. The deal represents a strategic milestone in Italian ship owners’ expansion into the Greek and broader Eastern Mediterranean markets, most notably into the key port of Thessaloniki. Rimorchiatori Mediterranei is the leading player in the harbour towage sector in Italy, and number two in the Mediterranean, operating a modern fleet of more than 100 tugs and other units, equipped with advanced technology. In 2016 it generated revenues of around €110m.

Last year Liebherr Maritime Cranes delivered nine mobile harbor cranes, four reachstackers, three rail mounted gantry cranes and one ship-to-shore container crane to various Italian ports. Since Liebherr has been engaged in the manufacturing of maritime cargo handling equipment, Italian ports proved to be reliable and valuable partners. The first mobile harbor crane was already delivered in 1974 and over the years the maritime cargo handling fleet operating in Italy has constantly been increased.

International law firm Watson Farley & Williams (“WFW”) has advised Turkey-based cruise port operator Global Ports Holding (“GPH”) on the acquisition of stakes in companies managing cruise terminals in Italy. Specifically, GPH acquired stakes in the companies managing the Cagliari (Sardinia), Catania (Sicily) and Ravenna (Emilia-Romagna) cruise ports, previously owned by Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (“Royal Caribbean”), Aloschi&Bassani S.p.A. and Bassani Ravenna S.r.l. Royal Caribbean will retain a minority stake in all three companies and Cagliari, Catania and Ravenna ports will remain part of Royal Caribbean’s cruise itineraries. Founded in 2004…

Contship Italia Group, Italy’s leading maritime container terminal and intermodal operator saw an increase in handled volume of 1.7% and 9.7% increase in transported volumes for 2016. The group’s Maritime Container Terminal business saw an increase of 109,000 TEUs in overall handling volumes in 2016, welcoming 6,888 vessel calls, up 4% year on year. Contship’s intermodal business reported an overall rise in transported volumes and directly operated number of trains. Innovative fast customs corridors, an improved load factor of domestic trains in the second half of the year, plus the increased routing of cargo via the southern gateway to south and central Europe, have all supported an increased market share of 25% in the Italian maritime intermodal business.

A new launch for Vittoria Shipyard in Adria (Italy). The ceremony for Blue Brother took place in the waters of the Canalbianco-Po River. The supply vessel will be leased out to Bambini di Ravenna, which is one of the most important maritime transport companies in Italy, specialized in providing offshore support services. The new vessel is property of the shipowning company Adriese di Navigazione, which is also the holding company of the group the Vittoria Shipyard belongs to. Both the “Adriese” and “Vittoria” firms have the same shareholding group, which is controlled by the Duò family.

Navis has announced a new N4 terminal operating system (TOS) licensing agreement with Italian terminal, Trieste Marine Terminal (TMT). TMT selected the Navis TOS to optimize the terminal’s operational cycle and lower costs. The ultimate goal is to increase TMT’s efficiencies so customers can experience improved productivity. Trieste Marine Terminal located in Trieste, Italy is the only specialized container terminal, providing unique services for container traffic that moves through the North Adriatic Sea.

Evergreen Line is to partner with COSCO in operating a joint Adriatic - Israel (AIS) Service. The new initiative opens up the corridor between North Adriatic ports, Piraeus and Israel, and provide direct and speedy service to customers. Two ships of around 1,000 TEU will be deployed on the new weekly service, one each operated by the joint service partners. With a 14-day rotation, this weekly service provides an efficient link for regional trade and offers more opportunities for customers in the growing area, focusing especially on the time sensitive reefer cargo. In addition to strengthen Evergreen Line's current Adriatic-Piraeus feeder coverage…