Our Port Pro of the Month is Annalisa Tardino, Extraordinary Commissioner of the Port System Authority of the Western Sicilian Sea, which manages the ports in western Sicily, which includes Palermo, Termini Imerese, Trapani, Porto Empedocle, Licata, Gela and Sciacca in Italy. In what follows, you will read more about investment projects and cruise operations in Italian Ports. Discover below some other interesting topics addressed by our port professional of the month!

Can you briefly tell us about the Port System Authority of the Western Sicilian Sea? What are the main characteristics and challenges within its ports?

Annalisa Tardino, Extraordinary Commissioner of the Port System Authority of the Western Sicilian Sea

Seven ports, seven vocations, one single trajectory: the ports of Western Sicily do not compete with each other—they complement each other, forming a logistical, cruise and motorways-of-the-sea archipelago. These ports are undergoing an unprecedented transformation, with new tourism, energy, logistics and infrastructure projects moving forward. Palermo is preparing a fully renewed waterfront and a state-of-the-art dry dock. Termini Imerese is becoming an integrated hub with marinas, megayacht facilities and green areas. Trapani is investing in modern cruise terminals, while Porto Empedocle and Licata are strengthening operations and services. Gela and Sciacca are enhancing safety, navigability and tourism. Across all ports, the goal is the same: to combine efficiency, innovation and urban livability, attracting international shipowners, supporting the local economy and integrating harmoniously into city life.

Port of Palermo

What is your long-term vision for Sicilian Sea Ports? What are the main investment projects for the coming years? Could you briefly describe the importance of these investment projects in the ports and the benefits for the region?

Port of Palermo and Monte Pellegrino

My long-term vision is to transform the ports of the Sicilian Sea into an integrated, competitive European system—between the Tyrrhenian Sea and the Strait of Sicily—capable of enhancing even the more decentralised ports. We are planning investments to strengthen the infrastructures of Sciacca, Porto Empedocle, Licata and Gela, acknowledging their strategic position and international potential. Our priorities align with EU strategies: energy, safety and the green transition, especially for the southernmost ports, with Gela included in ENI’s (Ente Nazionale Idrocarburi, National Hydrocarbons Authority) alternative-energy projects. In parallel, we are developing tourist port facilities (Sciacca, Gela), commercial and cruise operations (Licata, Trapani), and structural projects already underway in Palermo, Termini Imerese and Trapani. Our goal is to make the Authority a Mediterranean benchmark, building international partnerships—from Brussels to Rotterdam—while enhancing Sicily’s ability to integrate into new EU strategies and capture currently underused traffic flows.

Port of Palermo and Cruise Terminal

We read that the Port System Authority has implemented “Smart Ports” initiatives. Please, could you further explain us about this project? What are the benefits for the ports?

The Port System Authority is developing an innovative, strategic Smart Ports project based on a public-private partnership model for the integrated management of energy, public lighting and smart technologies across Palermo, Termini Imerese, Trapani and Porto Empedocle. It is an advanced vision of an ‘intelligent port,’ where the energy transition, environmental sustainability and operational efficiency converge in a unified management platform delivering tangible, measurable benefits to the port community. At its core is a renewable-energy system featuring next-generation photovoltaic installations and advanced storage solutions, ensuring continuity, safety and autonomy in green-energy supply. Environmentally, it cuts CO₂ emissions, supports national renewable-energy targets and promotes sustainable use of maritime state property. Socially, it guarantees access to green energy for the Authority and the users within the port energy community, strengthens infrastructure sustainability and offers a replicable regional model. At the same time, the Authority is advancing port digitalisation—with major progress through the Port Community System—and implementing shore-power (cold ironing) projects financed with €60 million of PNRR funds (part of the national Recovery and Resilience Plans of EU member states).

Port of Palermo and Marina Yatching

Sicily being an island, how do you see the specific role of the port and how should policy support this role?

Sicily is an economic system built on connections. In this context, the port is not just another piece of infrastructure: it is the platform that brings together mobility, energy, safety, tourism and industry. Without efficient ports, the island risks logistical isolation and a loss of competitiveness; with modern, interoperable and sustainable ports, it becomes a natural Mediterranean hub. Public policies must therefore support ports on three fronts. First, infrastructure: from shore-power electrification to traffic expansion. Second, energy: the South—Gela especially—can contribute to the EU’s green-deal and energy-security strategies. Third, partnerships: structured cooperation with European ports and stronger EU recognition of Sicily’s role. The island can become a strategic European bridge in the Mediterranean, not a geographical periphery, with its ports acting as catalysts of territorial cohesion and competitiveness.

Palermo is described, in the Port System Authority of the Western Sicilian Sea website, as the main gateway to Sicily for passengers and goods, as well as one of the most beautiful natural harbors in Europe. Given its strategic position in the Mediterranean and its dual role as both an economic hub and a cultural destination, how does the Port of Palermo balance commercial activity with the growth of tourism and cruise traffic?

Port of Palermo

The port of Palermo balances commercial and cruise activity through two key levers: upgraded, dedicated infrastructure and careful spatial planning to minimise conflicts between commercial and tourist flows while optimising traffic and waiting times. Investments in modern infrastructure, digital systems and hospitality services enhance the visitor experience without compromising logistical efficiency. This allows Palermo to maintain its cargo operations while simultaneously increasing ro-ro movements and expanding cruise traffic, which surpassed one million arrivals in 2025.
What are the key objectives and expected impact of the projects in the Port of Palermo— such as the Palermo Marina Yachting waterfront and the Port-City Interface project—on the city’s economic growth and urban integration?

Today, the Port of Palermo is a dynamic entity, advancing both completed projects—such as Palermo Marina Yachting and the Cruise Terminal—and others now underway. Some initiatives have already demonstrated their effectiveness, while others serve as essential foundations for future development. Palermo must continue to create bold scenarios, building on its renewed waterfront and ‘breaking down walls’ to transform the port from a separate enclave into an open gateway to the city. The Port-City Interface project, now being implemented, will improve accessibility, safety and the overall usability of port spaces. Meanwhile, the extensive waterfront redevelopment—from Sant’Erasmo to La Cala and Palermo Marina Yachting—has returned attractive open spaces to the city, enhancing tourism and generating new economic opportunities.

How did you get into maritime transport? How did your career path lead to this position?

I entered the maritime transport sector through a path shaped by both my roots and my studies. I was born in Licata, by the sea, which nurtured my curiosity and awareness of port dynamics and the needs of island and coastal communities. After graduating in law and practicing as a lawyer, I joined the European Parliament, working first in the Fisheries Committee and later in the Transport Committee. There, I developed specific expertise in maritime policies. This experience led to my appointment as Commissioner of the Port Authority, a role that allows me to put that institutional background into practice”.

Finally, if you had to bring us to your favourite spot in Port System Authority of the Western Sicilian Sea, to which place in the port would you take us?

If I could take you to my favorite place within the Port System Authority, I would show you two locations I particularly love: the historic port of La Cala in Palermo and the seafront of Licata. La Cala—where I often go jogging—is a symbol of connection between the sea, the city and its people. In Licata’s waterfront, I see my roots: the port, the sea and the local community remind me every day of my commitment to the sustainable development of coastal territories.
Source: ESPO