The Ports of Genoa strengthen their presence in one of the sectors most strategic industrial sectors. The System Authority Port of the Western Ligurian Sea, Confindustria Genoa and the Union Savona industrialists presented the first report of the Socio-economic Observatory "Enterprises, Work, Value", created with the aim of continuously monitoring the evolution of the shipbuilding and ship and nautical repairs in ports of Genoa and Savona-Vado Ligure. The initiative, formalized through a memorandum of understanding between the three subjects, aims to build a stable information base to support decisions industrial and infrastructural technologies, combining economic data, of the supply chain and direct surveys on companies.

The first survey of the Observatory involved 87 companies, obtaining 63 responses, equal to an adhesion rate of 72%. The numbers give back the image of a supply chain that represents one of the main drivers of the Ligurian maritime economy. In 2024 the value of the total production of the sector has reached about two billion euros, of which 1.9 billion concentrated in the system and 56.6 million in the Savona-Vado area, the latter with a prevalence of shipbuilding activities and both growing steadily compared to 2021. For the sole Genoese district, the prime contractors also provide for a further increase of +16.2% in 2025. In addition to this, there is a 525 million euros of added value generated in the area, of which 507 million in Genoa and 18.3 million in Savona-Vado.

The sector analyzed includes four major sectors: construction shipbuilding, ship repair, shipbuilding and repair boating. More than half of the companies surveyed are (55%), while large companies represent 6%. The district is based on an extremely in which the execution of orders requires the continuous involvement of subcontractors and external workers.

From the point of view of employment, the system has 4,390 employees direct and 6,040 indirect, for a total of 10,430 workers. Genoa concentrates almost entirely the employment of the sector, with about 9,900 total direct and indirect employees, while Savona-Vado has about 530 of them. The complexity of the supply chain also emerges from the variety of skills involved: the report lists 66 professional specializations, ranging from welders, pipe fitters, carpenters and electricians up to designers, engineers, on-board technicians and project managers.

The report points out that one of the most important indicators of the significant concerns the level of specialization of the territory Genoese region. The production specialization index (Location Quotient) reaches 9.3, which means that the incidence of of employment in shipbuilding and ship repairs is 9.3 times higher than the national average. The importance of the sector also emerges from its weight on the city's economy: the activities ship and ship repair and nautical companies occupy 8.7% of the productive areas of the Municipality of Genoa but generate 15% of GDP produced by the city's industrial activities. In addition, the value added per square meter is equal to 843 euros, compared to an average of 487 euros from other production activities municipal areas, showing a higher economic intensity of 1.7 times.

The research also confirms the central role of infrastructures in particular of the dry docks managed by the Basins, which constitute a shared asset for the entire supply chain. The dedicated area occupies about 112 thousand square meters and records a high saturation rate, with additional potential demand who cannot find full satisfaction due to the limited availability of space and operational capacity. A fact significant is that 80% of the value of production is built within the port areas, while the remaining 20% is developed externally. According to the report, greater availability of space would make it possible to internalise a significant share of these activities.

The document also highlights the challenges facing the sector face. While it shows economic and growth prospects, on the other hand, critical issues emerge on the human capital front. Companies report a growing difficulty in finding qualified personnel, especially in technical and craft professions. At the same time The demand for figures capable of integrating skills is increasing technical and managerial developments, while technological evolution introduces new requirements related to electronics, automation, home automation and systems advanced on-board vehicles.

The issue of the generational turnover: almost 60% of direct operational employees is between 41 and 60 years old, highlighting the need to strengthen the connection between companies, the training system and institutions to ensure the transmission of skills.