Lazio boasts over 33.000 companies linked to the maritime system, a number that in percentage terms represents 18% of the national total. Overall, these companies generate 7,5 billion euros of added value and employ 134.000 workers. The flagship of this system is the port of Civitavecchia, which handles about 17 million tons of cargo, supports a regional maritime import-export that exceeds 15 billion euros and has become the second largest cruise port in Europe (first in Italy) with 2,2 million passengers in 2017.
These are the main data that emerged during the conference dedicated to seaways as strategic assets for the development of the Lazio region during which the 5th edition of the SRM "Italian Maritime Economy" report. The event, held in Civitavecchia, was organized by Intesa Sanpaolo, in collaboration with SRM (study center linked to the Intesa Sanpaolo Group), the Port System Authority of the Central-Northern Tyrrhenian Sea and the Order of Accountants and Accounting Experts of Civitavecchia.
The Report highlighted the growth of Italian ports thanks to the growing importance of the international component of maritime transport, but also highlighted how the "so-called economy of the sea constitutes an increasingly strategic asset for growth and development and the connection between all the players involved must be ever stronger", he explains Pierluigi Monceri, regional director of Lazio, Sardinia and Sicily of Intesa Sanpaolo.
Returning to the data, particularly important are the numbers made by ro-ro traffic, name with which we refer to the transport of cars and wheeled vehicles, which reached 5 million tons, with a +3% on 2016 and a growth of 23% in the last 5 years. It should be noted that this is a sector with high added value, especially if linked to the transport of new cars, and that since 2012 the number of Ro-Ro ships transiting the Tyrrhenian Sea has increased by 15,4%. At this juncture, Civitavecchia represents 5% of national traffic.
Not to be underestimated even the data on cruise sector where record levels are expected for 2019: next year, in fact, 11,5 million cruise passengers could land in Italian ports, with an increase of 5,5% on 2018. As regards the current year, however, the forecasts confirm Italy as the leading European destination with 10,9 million cruise passengers (+7,3% compared to 2017) for a total of over 4.600 calls. Once again the lion's share is taken by the port of Civitavecchia, which benefiting from the tourist attraction of Rome, will exceed 2,4 million visitors and 775 ship calls with an increase of 12% on 2014 and 9% if we consider the 2017.
Finally, the report points out the new impetus for the Mediterranean, which in the last 20 years has seen container traffic grow 6 times (+500%), but also the need to pay great attention to the possibility of establishing a Simplified Logistics Zone, to attract investments and encourage exports.
