Italy’s Ravenna Port Authority has announced that it awarded the tender for the construction of a new cruise terminal and the concession of its cruise operations in Porto Corsini to RCL Cruises Ltd., a subsidiary of Royal Caribbean Group.
The project, which will be completed in spring 2024, will position Ravenna as a homeport for cruise ships to begin and end their cruise itineraries and not just as a port of call. Once the terminal is fully operational, the total number of footfalls is expected to increase to more than 300,000 travelers per year, most of whom will begin and end their cruises in Ravenna. With convenient access to the airports of Bologna, Forlì, Rimini and Venice, the region is expected to witness a significant economic boon with pre- and post-cruise visitors.
The new cruise terminal will showcase integrated landscaping, spanning 12 hectares, with public green spaces, pedestrian and cycling pathways, and entertainment areas for residents and visitors. The project is committed toward sustainability with plans for LEED certification focusing on water and energy efficiency, renewable energy production, recycling and waste management and sustainable sourcing of materials. Additionally, shore power will be available on the docks to enable ships in port to turn off their engines. To support these efforts, the port authority has obtained €30 million (nearly $35 million) in funding from Italy’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (Piano Nazionale di Ripresa e Resilienza).
Royal Caribbean Group plans for strategic development of the Port of Ravenna to expand the range of options for cruise travelers in the Adriatic region and throughout the Mediterranean, in anticipation of a strong tourism rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic and growth opportunities in the region. This major infrastructure investment and partnership with the Ravenna Port Authority is part of the Port Hub marine project which will allow access to a greater number of ships through the North Inner Port area.
Joshua Carroll, vice president, Destination Development at Royal Caribbean Group, said in a press release that visitors can discover Ravenna’s historic and cultural treasures, art and antiquities, the thrill of motor racing, the beaches and nightlife, and Italian culinary tradition.
Royal Caribbean Group has roped in the architectural design company, Atelier(s) Alfonso Femia, and engineering consultants at RINA Consulting for the port development project. The latter will collaborate with the cruise company to uphold its principles for sustainable development to protect the communities in the destinations it visits and the oceans on which it sails.
Artwork depicting the sea and pristine nature of the region will be highlighted throughout the two-story terminal which will feature a crew center, tourist information desk and spaces offering local street food. The terminal building will be connected to ships via an elevated walkway running along the length of the pier. Guests can enjoy views of the sea and beaches of Ravenna as they make their way to ships on new-generation mobile boarding bridges.
The homeport operations are expected to generate direct and indirect employment for 100 to 200 people a day in a variety of positions including pier staff, security guards, check-in agents, porters, stevedores, pilots, custodial staff, mooring personnel, port and shipping agents, bus, taxi, limo and truck drivers, tourist escorts and guides.
On days without ships at berth, the terminal and its walkway over the sea will be accessible to both public and private events such as sport competitions, artistic and literary presentations.
For more information, visit www.port.ravenna.it
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