PORT OF TARANTO, 11 August 2025 – This morning, at the headquarters of the Port Network Authority of the Ionian Sea, a meeting was held convened by Extraordinary Commissioner Giovanni Gugliotti, following an urgent request submitted on 4 August by the main trade unions CGIL, CISL, and UIL, after national and international media reports suggested a possible relocation of the Bora Med service operated by Compagnie Maritime d’Affrètement – Compagnie Générale Maritime (CMA CGM) from the Taranto terminal – managed by San Cataldo Container Terminal Srl (Yilport Taranto) – to the Port of Salerno.
In addition to the trade union representatives, the meeting was attended by representatives of the main local institutions, who responded to the invitation – addressed to the Mayor, the President of the Province, and local Members of Parliament – to take part in the collaborative dialogue promoted by the Port Network Authority of the Ionian Sea. Among those present were the Mayor of Taranto, Piero Bitetti, the President of the Province of Taranto, Gianfranco Palmisano, and MP Ubaldo Pagano, all of whom welcomed the invitation to collaborate in safeguarding and enhancing the port as a strategic infrastructure for the territory and the regional economy.
The meeting was opened by Commissioner Gugliotti, who provided participants with a comprehensive overview of international media reports regarding the alleged withdrawal of CMA CGM from Taranto. These reports were subsequently denied both by the shipping company and by Yilport Taranto (San Cataldo Container Terminal, SCCT), which reaffirmed its intention to continue operations at the Taranto terminal.
Commissioner Gugliotti expressed his openness to dialogue and invited participants to share their views on commercial traffic at the Port of Taranto, aiming to gather local stakeholders’ concerns and jointly explore solutions for effectively managing relations with the Turkish operator.
The meeting took place in a spirit of full cooperation, during which the main challenges to be addressed for ensuring the development and full operational capacity of the Ionian port were discussed. Participants also reviewed the main projects and development areas, which will be coordinated and integrated into a strategic development plan for the port, involving all relevant stakeholders. It was finally agreed to establish a permanent working group between institutions and trade unions, with the aim of drafting a programme agreement covering not only the Port of Taranto but also the wider Ionian area.
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“Today’s meeting,” stated Extraordinary Commissioner Giovanni Gugliotti, “represents a key moment of dialogue and collaboration between institutions and trade unions – a necessary step to address, with unity and responsibility, the challenges related to commercial traffic at the Port of Taranto. The port is a strategic infrastructure for the territory and the entire Ionian area, making it essential to establish a permanent territorial network based on ongoing dialogue and shared decision-making that concerns not only the port but the wider economy of the Ionian region. It is also a priority to identify and support port-related initiatives, which are key to the future growth of our port. The Port Network Authority of the Ionian Sea is committed to fostering and supporting this process of shared collaboration and development”.
“Constant dialogue is the only remedy for the long-standing challenges of the Port of Taranto,” stated MP Ubaldo Pagano. “Transitioning to a more diversified port development, beyond reliance on steel-related activities, requires accelerating environmental remediation and dredging, as well as a comprehensive vision for the economic development of the entire Ionian area”.
“For our territory,” declared President Gianfranco Palmisano, “it is essential to maintain open and ongoing dialogue between institutions, ensuring active participation on strategic issues, such as the future of the Port of Taranto. I proposed establishing a permanent working group involving all stakeholders to ensure continuous monitoring and transparent communication of decisions and development plans for the port. Only through stable and coordinated collaboration can we effectively foster the growth of the port, while safeguarding the economic and social interests of the entire Ionian area”.
“As the municipal administration,” added Mayor Piero Bitetti, “we are ready to do our part by mobilizing all necessary energy and expertise to maximize the potential of our port and reinforce its role within international logistics networks. The dialogue initiated today must become a permanent practice, as the future of the port is closely tied to the future of Taranto. It is essential for institutions, trade unions, and operators to work together to ensure the continuity and growth of commercial traffic, while safeguarding employment and development opportunities”.
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