20th caisson installed project reaches 900 metres in length

• More than 500 days of deep underwater work for the maritime project led by Webuild
• A fleet of 60 ships for the technological challenge in the Mediterranean

GENOA, April 28, 2026 – Construction of the New Genoa Breakwater continues with the installation of the 20th caisson. The placement is part of the work carried out by the PerGenova Breakwater Consortium, led by Webuild, on behalf of the Western Ligurian Sea Port Authority.

The project is advancing according to the highest safety standards and rigorous protocols to safeguard the marine ecosystem, combining engineering complexity with protection of the surrounding area.

With the installation of the latest caisson, the breakwater exceeds 880 metres in total length. It includes 20 caissons, comprising three large units (67 metres long and 34 metres high) and 17 standard modules, which together form the main body of the barrier.

Technical efforts are focused on underwater operations, which have exceeded 500 days of continuous activity, ranging from unexploded ordnance clearance to structural monitoring. In open sea, a fleet of more than 60 vessels is operating, engaged in logistical coordination that monitors weather and sea conditions to ensure personnel safety.

On the sustainability front, the protection of marine wildlife remains an operational priority. During approximately 60 transport voyages for the caissons, 43 sightings of cetaceans and local marine fauna were recorded data that confirm the effectiveness of the acoustic and visual mitigation protocols adopted along routes.

Alongside the external barrier, construction of the superstructure is also progressing, with the first two segments of the deck slab of caisson C35 already cast. Additional works are progressing, including the construction of a water pipeline serving the Genoa Aquarium. Together with the Terzo Valico dei Giovi railway project, the breakwater is shaping up as a strategic asset for improving the logistics efficiency of the Genoa port system in the Mediterranean.