The Port System Authority of the Adriatic Sea Settentrionale has signed today with Venezia Terminal Passeggeri, The company that manages passenger traffic in the port of Venice and which is owned by the Port Authority itself, the act which provides for the extension of the concession to VTP for a further ten years, a new investment plan and the redefinition of the areas covered by the same for terminals Venezia Marittima, Isola Saloni di Chioggia and Canale Nord di Marghera and the interventions to be carried out ( of 26 February and 20 June 2024).

The document regulates the changes that have occurred with respect to what has already been provided for in the concession deeds that since 2000 have given structure and development to the passenger terminals of Marittima and of Chioggia, in the context of the orders of the cruise commissioner Venice, Fulvio Lino Di Blasio, who is president of the same AdSP, issued in the period 2021-2024 following the decree government of 2021 that prevents large ships from reaching the maritime station of Venice through St. Mark's Basin, the San Marco Canal and the Giudecca Canal ( of 13 July 2021). The objective of the supplementary act is to allow VTP, as the operator affected by the transit ban referred to in art. 1, paragraph 2 of Decree-Law no. 103/2021, the maintenance of the management of state-owned assets intended for passenger disembarkation and embarkation operations and activities and/or connected provided for in the acts of concession already issued.

On the basis of paragraph 5 of Article 1 of the Decree-Law which, for the rebalancing of the economic and financial plan of the concession, establishes that the revision of the concession may provide for the extension of its duration, the reduction, payment in instalments or remodulation of the concession fee, the deed signed today provides for the temporal reparameterization of the current concession from the term of current deadline, set at 31 May 2026, until 31 May 2036, on the basis of VTP's business plan.

This extension - explained the Venetian port authority - holds account for the time needed to recover full functionality of the concession, which was affected by the entry into force of the Decree-Law no. 103/2021, and the time strictly necessary the amortization of the investments necessary for the equipping of the terminal and the use of the new moorings that VTP Spa has committed to build with an investment of 19.2 million euros. All in parallel with the commissioner works related to the Improving nautical accessibility (maintenance of channels and "chamfers") and the construction of the station to the North Channel.

As far as the areas are concerned, however, the concession deed regulates and gives structure to the three compendiums managed by VTP: the Venezia Marittima Terminal including areas, roads, quays, bodies of water and buildings as will result in following the return of some buildings in the Maritime area, San Basilio and Santa Marta, the Isola Saloni Terminal with the areas, roads, quays, bodies of water and buildings that constitute the operational terminal in Chioggia and the Canal Terminal North Marghera including areas, roads, docks, bodies of water and buildings that will be built by VTP in conclusion of the commissioner works provided for by the decree no. 545 of 31 December 2021.

Together with a redefinition of the times and areas of the grant, the document establishes a monitoring and review to verify and maintain the economic and financial status of the concession and compliance with the conditions assumed for the purpose of maintaining the ten-year extension.

"This act - commented the president of the Port Authority and extraordinary commissioner, Fulvio Lino Di Blasio - is the the result of a long and fruitful technical work of comparison with VTP, conducted in compliance with Decree-Law no. 103/2021. It was not easy, but we took up the challenge by teaming up: as a structure commissioner and as a System Authority - together with the deputy Minister Rixi, to the Ports Directorate of the Ministry of Transport, Infrastructure and Transport, the Management Committee, the Harbour Master's Office and with the fundamental support of the Attorney General State District - we have identified the best solution to ensure continuity of traffic development passengers of the Veneto airports and related services, thus providing greater certainty for the market and confirmations for all workers of the sector. The future of the cruise industry from a more without ever forgetting the necessary balance with the commercial sector, also passes through this important step which represents a real turning point for the our ports".

Pointing out that today is the conclusion of "a great work of consultation and comparison that has made it possible to give full shape to the new model of cruise offer in lagoon, based on the program of widespread landings born following the Decree 103 of 2021", the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Venice Terminal Passeggeri, Fabrizio Spagna, specified that The intent is to "give life to a new normality", which strongly focuses on a segment of medium-high clientele, with the aim of creating a for luxury cruises based on the quality of services and on respect for the context in which it operates. Thanks to the act signed today - added Spagna - we will therefore be in able to clearly carry out an investment program which provides for the use of 19.2 million euros to provide the ports of Venice and Chioggia of infrastructures and technologies that will allow fluid flow management. We are sure that the path taken is the right one and that, thanks to the collaboration between all the parties involved, we will be able to create to a model compatible with the beauty and fragility of Venice and, at the same time, respectful of the economic and social fabric of the territory, balancing the need to welcome visitors with a commitment to protect and enhance our unique heritage".