The New Genoa Breakwater passes the first kilometre of development twenty-third caisson installed. The construction site is progressing on multiple fronts at a steady pace, shaping one of the most complex maritime projects in Europe
- Seabed consolidation works continue, along with the construction of the next caissons
Genoa, 9 June 2026 – Construction of the New Genoa Breakwater continues at a fast pace. With the successful installation of the twenty-third caisson completed today, the project has surpassed the first kilometre of total length, confirming the steady progress of the works and the solidity of the execution framework. The project is being carried out by the PerGenova Breakwater Consortium, led by Webuild, on behalf of the Port System Authority of the Western Ligurian Sea.
Alongside the installation of the caissons, seabed consolidation activities are continuing without interruption, a crucial phase to ensure the stability of the infrastructure. The construction site operates continuously, seven days a week, involving complex operations that require advanced technologies and highly specialized expertise.
“The milestone of surpassing the first kilometre of the New Breakwater is a concrete measure of the progress of one of the most complex maritime projects in Europe. The installation of the twenty-third caisson confirms that work is progressing steadily, thanks to a solid execution framework and constant coordination among all stakeholders involved,” said Carlo De Simone, Deputy Commissioner for the Genoa Reconstruction. “As the Commissioner Structure, we closely monitor every phase of this project to ensure compliance with timelines, safety during operations, and full transparency in the use of public resources. The technical complexity of a project carried out at sea, seven days a week, requires highly specialized expertise and careful oversight: it is a commitment that honours the history and maritime vocation of Genoa. The new breakwater is not only a strategic infrastructure for the port and the city, but also a decisive investment for the competitiveness of the national system in the Mediterranean. Each caisson installed brings Genoa closer to a new logistical capacity capable of generating qualified employment, development, and value for the entire area.”
“Reaching the first kilometre of the New Breakwater represents an important milestone in the development of a strategic project for the future of the Port of Genoa and the entire national logistics system. It is not only a technical achievement: it is tangible proof of how a long-term vision can turn into real results through the daily work of many people,” commented Matteo Paroli, President of the Port System Authority of the Western Ligurian Sea. “The New Breakwater is the main intervention within a broader public investment programme that, between Genoa and Savona, totals €3.6 billion. Projects of this scale require planning capacity, administrative quality, continuity in decision-making, and strong collaboration among all involved institutions. These are the elements that allow available resources to be transformed into infrastructure capable of generating competitiveness, development, and new investment opportunities. I would like to sincerely thank all the institutions involved and those contributing to the project. The New Breakwater is certainly an extraordinarily complex engineering work, but it is also the result of the daily efforts of many people who, often away from the spotlight, ensure coordination of activities, management of procedures, and continuous progress of the project. It is thanks to this shared commitment that a strategic infrastructure for the port, the territory, and the country is gradually becoming a reality.”
“Surpassing the first kilometre of the New Breakwater,” highlighted Pietro Salini, CEO of Webuild, “marks a result of great engineering and industrial value, demonstrating the ability of the Italian supply chain to operate effectively in some of the most complex environments in Europe. It is a milestone that showcases expertise, innovation, and a broad, integrated production chain, working daily at sea with high standards of quality and safety. The new breakwater is part of a broader and integrated infrastructure vision which, together with the Terzo Valico dei Giovi–Genoa Node, will help strengthen and project the role of Genoa and its port as the main gateway to the Mediterranean and a strategic hub within European corridors. Projects like these contribute to the modernization of the country by attracting investments, strengthening competitiveness, generating skilled employment, and activating supply chains, thus creating lasting value for territories. Projects of this magnitude also reaffirm the central role of investment in modern and sustainable infrastructure as a key driver of economic and social development”.
The New Genoa Breakwater project today involves a wide and diverse technical community, engaged daily in an integrated system of activities that brings together different professional profiles: engineers, technicians, maritime operators, divers, and personnel specialized in offshore operations and port logistics.
This collective effort is also an important opportunity to enhance maritime professions, a core element of Genoa’s identity, now reinterpreted through innovation, safety, and continuous training.
With its advanced configuration – set further offshore, designed to accommodate next-generation vessels, and intended to improve accessibility and safety within the port – this new infrastructure introduces a step change in the capacity of the city’s port system. It means more efficient routes, greater international competitiveness, new opportunities for maritime traffic and investments, confirming that the project will not only be a strategic infrastructure for the port and the city’s development, but also a major industrial initiative capable of generating expertise, skilled employment, and value for the entire national system.
