The Nordanvik Arrives: The Port of Venice Inaugurates Its Cement Terminal
General Sistem: “They told us it was an impossible project.”
Di Blasio: “Venice is now home to one of the largest cement terminals in Europe. The goal: around 50 ship calls per year. Cargo handling, value, and employment.”
The cement terminal under concession to General Sistem officially began operations on Tuesday with the arrival of the Nordanvik. The company had applied to the Port Authority for a state concession until the end of 2024 in order to build and use a temporary berth, while also designing and constructing the permanent infrastructure, with an investment of €20 million.
The concessionaire aims to manage around 50 ship calls per year, accommodating cement carriers up to 150 meters in length, and to handle between 250,000 and 300,000 tons of material annually. Located in the South Industrial Canal of Porto Marghera, in an area of about 25,000 square meters (the Ex Abibes site), the terminal is equipped with four cement storage silos, each with a capacity of approximately 5,000 tons, a pneumatic transport line carrying cement from the quay to the silos, and advanced unloading systems, including a bagging plant.
The Porto Marghera terminal currently employs 15 people. General Sistem operates as a cement distributor with a large fleet of road transport vehicles and batching plants located in the provinces of Padua, Verona, Rovigo, and Mantua.
“At first, it seemed like madness to everyone,” the company stated. “They told us it was an impossible project to complete in such a short time. But we did not lose heart and instead believed even more in the strength of our group, which, in just two years and with the support of numerous external technicians, turned this small but great dream into reality. In the summer of 2021, the Port Authority accelerated the process thanks to the drive and enthusiasm of President Fulvio Lino Di Blasio and his team.”
President Di Blasio added:
“The lagoon port system continues to attract investments from companies that appreciate its infrastructural features, multipurpose vocation, and efficient connections. These elements make the ports of Venice and Chioggia fundamental hubs in European and Mediterranean logistics chains. With General Sistem’s investment, Venice is now home to one of the largest cement terminals in Europe — an infrastructure that will increase cargo handling in our ports, creating employment and value. This result encourages us to continue along the path of greater competitiveness, through continuous improvement of nautical accessibility and the strengthening of services dedicated to companies.”
