Escape from Genoa? For us it was lucky. They have reiterated today Costanza Musso, CEO of MA Grendi since 1828, and Antonio Musso, managing director of Grendi Maritime Transport, referring to when the Grendi group had been forced to abandon the port of the Ligurian capital being its concession on the areas of Ponte Libia has expired ( of 14 June 2011). Leaving the port of Genoa - said Costanza Musso with a touch of emotion - it happened without joy. But it certainly did not happen without friction with others local operators and with the top management of the then Authority Portual, as explicitly implied by the combative manager of the Grendi group a few days after the move ( of 13 and 13 June 2011). A move that took place in two days: from Saturday morning - recalled Costanza Musso - to Sunday evening, for transfer the activity from a reality, the Genoese one, which - he noted - is "very complicated" in Vado Ligurian where "we were very well received". But then - he added, referring to the new container platform made in the Savona airport - Maersk entered and several projects took over. So - he concluded - we had the opportunity of Marina di Carrara.

An opportunity that the Grendi group has been able to seize and exploit, according to the numbers presented today. The turnover, in constant growth since 2016 which - specified Antonio Musso - has been turning point when the transfer of terminal operations to the port of Marina di Carrara, in 2024 amounted to 117.6 million euros, with a increase of +20% over 2023, of which 81.3 million contributed by the Grendi Maritime Transport (+26%) and 38.4 million from MA Grendi from 1828 (+5%). A growth supported by the increase in investments increased from 19 million in the three-year period 2021-2023 to 36.5 million million euros programmed in the three-year period 2024-2026, of which 14 million already carried out during 2024. In addition to the figures economic growth, growth has also taken place on the economic front. of employment, with staff reporting directly to the group that in 2024 rose to 236 units, with a increase of +40% on the previous year.

A positive trend that in 2024 has come to a halt in terms of volumes of containerised cargo transported by the fleet, results of 85,667 TEUs (-3.8%), while the growth in the number of rolling stock embarked on ships with a total of 50,939 vehicles (+5.0%, with +1.7% of linear metres of rolling stock transported) despite the decrease of 18 ship voyages compared to the 2023 (-7%).

A positive trend that the group intends to consolidate in 2025 with various initiatives, first of all the relaunch of the port container in Cagliari where Grendi operates with the container terminal at the Canal Port of its subsidiary Mediterranean Intermodal Terminal Operator (MITO) which, in lo-lo traffic, closed 2024 with 150,162 TEU containers handled (+176%), with 112 ships operated (+100%) and with a gross quay crane productivity of 34 movements/hour. A trend that Grendi plans to support with increases in activity and volumes with North Africa, in particular Algeria. A growth - it was announced today - which will involve a further transfer of activities still carried out in Genoa, from which in the coming days Land transport operations will be moved to Marina di Carrara where a new office is ready of 200 square meters, even if in the Ligurian capital - he specified Costanza Musso - the administration and human resources remain but also the "head" of transport.

Outlook for 2025 which, however, will be compared with the challenge of expenses: the year - explained Antonio Musso - is shaping up due to the increase in costs, starting with those of excise duties on fuels impacting land transport, from the new port and logistics contracts that provide for increases (expected to increase by +8/10% over a three-year period), from increases in Istat (+1.8%) and motorway fares (+1.8%) as well as of the rates for motor vehicles (+3%). In addition, he added, maritime part is experiencing an important phase for the introduction of the European ETS legislation for the decarbonisation of shipping which today is applied to 70% in relation to fuel consumption compared to 40% in 2024. To which will be added the effect, a starting from next May 1st, of the SECA area of the Mediterranean for the control of sulphur emissions from maritime transport.

Among the projects underway for 2025 there is also the increase of regular shipping capacity national through the replacement of one of the three ships of the fleet and the continuation of the development of maritime services international and feeder.