Piano plays a bold tune

The troubled multipurpose operations at Sampierdarena in the Port of Genoa have been given a stay of execution to allow time to find a new solution

Heavy haulage specialist Fagioli SpA has successfuly completed the transfer of four low profile container cranes from Libia Pier to Ronco/Canepa Levante Pier within the Port of Genoa, using its self-propelled modular transporters (SPMTs) and a barge chartered from a Fincantieri shipyard.

Contship Italia SpA (Eurogate group) is testing a new bi-directional, RFID obstacle detection system from TP Srl at La Spezia Container terminal (LSCT). The system is designed to prevent any danger of cargo handling equipment running over dockworkers and other terminal staff in the vicinity of the stacks and in general CY and IY handling operations.

The row over the VIth Module at Voltri Terminal Europa (VTE) in the Port of Genoa shows no signs of abating. As surmised in the April 2007 issue of WorldCargo News (p28), a deal to co-manage the facility is being hatched up by PSASinport, up to now the sole concessionaire of VTE, and Trentitalia, which is anxious to break into port handling.

PSA Sinport’s Voltri Terminal Europa (VTE) in Genoa and P&ONL have firmed up the deal whereby the carrier gets a 30 per cent stake in the facility, with an option for a further seven per cent, following the letter of intent signed earlier this year.

Grimaldi is set to test the ro-ro cassette system and a new automatic trailer trestle between Genoa and Medcenter Container Terminal, as part of a collaborative project with Contship Italia (Eurogate group), Genoa Port Authority and TTS Ships Equipment AB (now incorporating KSE Kvaerner Ships Equipment).