The new agreement extends the concession for a further 10 years, provides a new investment plan and redefines the scope of the management provided by the Venetian company
Venice, 03 December– A new timeline for the expiry of the current concession (a ten-year extension) and the redefinition of the scope of the concession agreement for the terminals of Venezia Marittima, Isola Saloni in Chioggia and the North Canal in Marghera and of the interventions to be carried out: these are the provisions included in the supplement to the state concession agreement signed this morning by the president of the North Adriatic Sea Port Authority and Extraordinary Commissioner for cruises in Venice Fulvio Lino Di Blasio and Fabrizio Spagna, president and CEO of Venezia Terminal Passeggeri S.p.A..
The document governs the changes occurred with reference to the provisions of the concession agreement signed in 2000 that has shaped the development of the Marittima and Chioggia Passenger Terminals, taking into account the Venice Cruise Commissioner’s Ordinances issued between 2021 and 2024, with the aim of allowing VTP (the operator affected by the prohibition of transit as per art. 1, paragraph 2 of Decree-Law no. 103/2021) to continue to manage the state property used for passenger embarking and debarking, and related and/or connected activities provided for in the concession deeds.
As required by Article 1, paragraph 5 of Decree Law 103/2021, the supplement specifically states that the current concession will expire on 31.05.2036 (instead of 31.05.2026), based on VTP’s Business Plan. This extension takes into account both the time needed to recover the full functionality of the concession (which was affected by the entry into force of Decree Law 103/2021), and the time strictly necessary to amortise the investments required to equip the terminals and use the new berths, which VTP Spa has undertaken to achieve by investing 19.2 million Euros. This will proceed in parallel with the commission works related to the improvement of nautical accessibility (canal maintenance and spot dredging) and the construction of the passenger terminal in the North Canal.
The concession also regulates and outlines the three areas managed by VTP, i.e. the Venice Marittima Terminal (including yards, roadways, quaysides, water bodies and buildings resulting from the handover of some buildings in the Marittima, in San Basilio and in Santa Marta); the Isola Saloni Terminal (including yards, roadways, quaysides, water bodies and buildings that constitute the operational terminal in Chioggia) and the North Canal Terminal in Marghera (including yards, roadways, quaysides, water bodies and buildings that will be constructed by VTP once the commission works provided for by Interministerial Decree no. 545 of 31 December 2021 have been completed).
In addition to providing a new timing and scope for the concession, the document also provides for the establishment of a monitoring and review system, aimed at verifying and maintaining the economic and financial balance of the concession and ensuring compliance with the conditions in place in order to maintain the ten-year extension.
“This agreement,” commented AdSPMAS President and Extraordinary Commissioner Fulvio Lino Di Blasio, “stems from a lengthy and positive technical assessment performed together with VTP, in compliance with Decree Law no. 103/2021. It has not been easy, but we rose to the challenge by working as a team: acting both as Commissioner and as Port Authority – supported by Deputy Minister Rixi, the Directorate for Ports within the Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, the Management Committee, the Harbourmaster and with the essential backing provided by the State Attorney’s Office – we identified the best solution to ensure the coherent development of passenger traffic in the Veneto’s ports and of connected services, which also provides greater certainty for the market and stability for all workers in the sector. A more sustainable future for the cruise industry cannot neglect the need to strike a balance with the needs of commercial shipping and will be assured by this major administrative step forward, which represents a real turning point for our ports.”
Fabrizio Spagna, President and CEO of Venezia Terminal Passeggeri S.p.A., said: “Today we see the fruits of a major conciliation effort and of discussions which have allowed us to broadly shape a new model of cruising in the lagoon, whereby calls are scheduled according to a diffused berthing model created following Decree Law 103 of 2021. We want to create a ‘new normal’ that attracts the medium/high customer segment, with the aim of creating a luxury cruise hub in Venice based on the quality of the services provided and the respect shown for the context in which it operates. The supplement to the concession agreement signed today will allow us to clearly pursue an ambitious investment programme, which envisages the use of 19.2 million Euros to equip the ports of Venice and Chioggia with state-of-the-art infrastructure and technologies that will allow the smooth management of flows. We are certain that the route we have embarked on is right and that, thanks to the cooperation of all the players involved, we will be able to create a model that is compatible with the beauty and fragility of Venice and, at the same time, respectful of the economic and social fabric of the area, balancing the need to welcome visitors with the commitment to protect and enhance our unique heritage.”