On the small stretch of coast where the Tiber River meets the Tyrrhenian Sea, a contentious plan is unfolding. Italia Nostra, a prominent Italian environmental association, has raised concerns about the proposed construction of two international ports in Fiumicino, a move that seems at odds with Italy’s commitment to sustainability and environmental protection.
The first port, Fiumicino-Isola Sacra, is a private venture aimed at accommodating cruise ships. It’s slated for an area behind the northern “brush” that shields the Tiber’s mouth, spanning a 2-kilometer stretch of coast. The second port, managed by the public Authority of the Port System of the Central-Northern Tyrrhenian Sea, is already under construction, with its first phase, a fishing dock, currently being built.
The crux of the issue, as Italia Nostra points out, is the stark contrast between these developments and the principles of sustainability and environmental respect enshrined in the Italian Constitution and the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR). The proposed ports are to be built on a vulnerable, dynamically unstable coast, raising serious questions about their environmental impact.
“Given that the commercial port of the Port System Authority is planned in an old abandoned maritime industrial area, although close to a vast natural area included in the Coastal Reserve, the hypothesis of the additional cruise port of Fiumicino-Isola Sacra arouses total perplexity,” Italia Nostra stated in their report published in ‘GEOmedia’ (translated to English as ‘GEOmedia’).
The environmental concerns are compounded by the fact that the existing port of Civitavecchia, located about 50 kilometers north of Fiumicino, is already a leading hub for cruise ships in the Mediterranean. This raises questions about the commercial necessity of the new ports and their potential impact on existing maritime infrastructure.
From a commercial perspective, the new ports could bring opportunities for local businesses, from increased tourism to potential job creation. However, the environmental risks and the potential for disruption to existing maritime operations cannot be ignored. The situation is further complicated by the support of various public institutions, including the Municipality of Fiumicino and the structure of the Extraordinary Commissioner for the Jubilee, for the feasibility of the Fiumicino-Isola Sacra port.
As the debate continues, one thing is clear: the future of Fiumicino’s coast is at a crossroads, with significant implications for the environment, the local economy, and the maritime sector as a whole. The coming months will be crucial in determining the path forward, with stakeholders from all sides weighing in on the potential benefits and drawbacks of these proposed developments.