Italy is investing $1.8 billion (€1.3 billion) to build an offshore deep water terminal for the port of Venice. The new terminal, located about 14 kilometres (km) away from the Italian mainland, will save marine vessels five days of travelling time, and link the Northern Adriatic and trans-European transport network (TEN-T), according to the port.
In addition, the new terminal will decrease traffic on European railways and roads, and reduce 108 kilograms (kg) of CO2 emissions "for every container moved towards Munich via Venice instead of Hamburg".
"The terminal will in fact also have the task of acting as a "refuge berth" for ships waiting to enter the port when the barriers of the (Experimental Electromechanical Module) MOSE system are closed," it said.
According to the port, a completely automated system will be responsible for transferring containers from box vessels to a fleet of barges within an estimated time of two minutes.
The barges, each with a capacity of 112 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), will then take the cargo to a new 90 hectare container terminal in Porto Marghera on Italy's mainland for sorting and delivery to its destination via land.
The new terminal will also be equipped with oil loading and unloading facilities.
"The area reserved to the oil terminal is designed to manage a maximum capacity of 7 million tons of crude and dock ships of over 150,000 tons, unloading directly into an underwater pipeline linked to refineries in Porto Marghera and Mantua," said the port.
"The area reserved to loading and unloading containers will be capable of handling between 1.5 and 3 million TEUs and therefore host ocean-going ships with a capacity of between 6,000 and 14,000 TEUs."
Halcrow Group Ltd, an engineering firm overseeing the project, said the $1.8 billion terminal will be 20 metre (m) deep with a 1,500 m long quay, and protected by a 3.5 km long breakwater.
Payam Foroudi, project director of the group, said that electrical power on the new terminal will be supplied via submarine cables while water and fuel for the terminal will be supplied via barges.
Meanwhile, personnel and supplies at the terminal will be transported by shuttle ferries and service boats, while helicopters will be reserved for emergency use.
In addition, the new terminal will decrease traffic on European railways and roads, and reduce 108 kilograms (kg) of CO2 emissions "for every container moved towards Munich via Venice instead of Hamburg".
"The terminal will in fact also have the task of acting as a "refuge berth" for ships waiting to enter the port when the barriers of the (Experimental Electromechanical Module) MOSE system are closed," it said.
According to the port, a completely automated system will be responsible for transferring containers from box vessels to a fleet of barges within an estimated time of two minutes.
The barges, each with a capacity of 112 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), will then take the cargo to a new 90 hectare container terminal in Porto Marghera on Italy's mainland for sorting and delivery to its destination via land.
The new terminal will also be equipped with oil loading and unloading facilities.
"The area reserved to the oil terminal is designed to manage a maximum capacity of 7 million tons of crude and dock ships of over 150,000 tons, unloading directly into an underwater pipeline linked to refineries in Porto Marghera and Mantua," said the port.
"The area reserved to loading and unloading containers will be capable of handling between 1.5 and 3 million TEUs and therefore host ocean-going ships with a capacity of between 6,000 and 14,000 TEUs."
Halcrow Group Ltd, an engineering firm overseeing the project, said the $1.8 billion terminal will be 20 metre (m) deep with a 1,500 m long quay, and protected by a 3.5 km long breakwater.
Payam Foroudi, project director of the group, said that electrical power on the new terminal will be supplied via submarine cables while water and fuel for the terminal will be supplied via barges.
Meanwhile, personnel and supplies at the terminal will be transported by shuttle ferries and service boats, while helicopters will be reserved for emergency use.