Laying of first stone for Genoa’s new breakwater

Genoa is set to strengthen its role as a strategic hub for the Mediterranean – the laying of the first stone for a new breakwater was celebrated yesterday, marking the start of work on a project unique in the world for its scale, engineering complexity and economic benefit to the city and the country’s economy. 

It will be the biggest work ever done to improve an Italian port, part of an integrated series of projects that are developing access to the Port of Genova and Liguria by road, rail and sea.

The new breakwater, whose construction will employ 1,000 people directly and indirectly, will be done by the PERGENOVA BREAKWATER consortium led by Webuild with partners Fincantieri Infrastructure Opere Marittime, Fincosit and Sidra.

The innovative project entails the construction of a maritime infrastructure designed to protect the basins and port structures from climate change, acting as a bulwark at sea.

Nearly all of the material from the demolition of the old breakwater will be reused in respect of the principles of a circular economy, reducing the environmental impact of its construction.

The new breakwater, unique from an engineering point of view, will be 6,200 kilometres long. In order to build the base, which will reach depths of up to 50 metres, seven million tons of rock material will be used.

A hundred prefabricated, reinforced concrete caissons will be placed along the base, reaching a scale of 35 metres in width, 67 metres in length and up to 33 metres in height.