The shipping platform

Location: Catania is situated on Sicily's E coast. General overview: Catania is protected on the eastern side by a 1,900m length breakwater and on the southern side by the tanker berth with a 250m width entrance in between. The harbour has a S heading pier which divides the port into Porto Vecchio (Old Port) and Porto Nuovo (New Port), with the ground area which covers an area of 470,000 sqm, the stocking yards with an are of 280,000 sqm, the total length of 26 operative berths is 4,200 m. The port handles cruise liners, Ro-Ro, and commercial traffic which includes wood, paper, cereals, coal, iron materials and fertilisers. Port Catania is served by ferry routes to Genoa, Salerno or Livorno in Italy, Valencia in Spain, Patras in Greece, Bar in Montenegro and Valetta in Malta. Traffic figures: Approx 3,270 vessels, 4,300,000t of cargo, 18,000TEU and 300,000 passengers handled annually. Load line zone: Summer. Max size: LOA 340m, draught 9.5m, beam no limits.