520 people involved, directly and indirectly, with supply chain of over 300 suppliers since start of works

GENOA, December 3, 2025 – The fourteenth caisson of the New Genoa Breakwater has been lowered onto the seabed, the latest milestone in the construction of one of the most complex and strategic maritime infrastructure projects in Europe. Carried out by the PerGenova Breakwater consortium led by Webuild on behalf of the Western Ligurian Sea Port Authority, it is set to reshape Mediterranean trade routes and position the Ligurian port among the world's major logistics hubs. 

Key elements of the breakwater are the caissons: massive concrete and steel giants measuring up to 67 metres in length, 35 metres in width, and 33 metres in height - equivalent to a 10-story building. To date, 14 have been installed, including one of larger scale. Construction of the next caissons proceeds with the use of advanced technologies and specialised equipment, such as the semi-submersible barge Tronds Barge 33. 

Building a breakwater entirely offshore, on a seabed up to 50 metres deep, is an unprecedented challenge for a project of this kind in Europe. Once complete, it will stretch for 6.2 kilometres, forming a massive barrier against storm surges so as to open the port to next-generation container ships up to 400 metres long. 

Its construction entails significant technical complexity: consolidating the seabed with underwater columns, moving tons of crushed rock material, dredging and remediating the delicate underwater ecosystem to ensure its protection throughout the works. All of this is done while avoiding the interruption of port activity.

 Work is progressing on multiple fronts under a tight schedule, taking into account the challenges posed by sometimes adverse weather and sea conditions. So far, 86 percent of the material for the breakwater’s foundation on the seabed has placed, with more than 2.3 million tons of gravel set in place out of a total of 2.7 million tons planned. More than 49,000 underwater columns have been installed, equal to more than 565,000 metres in length, and over 78% of overall progress. Nearly 1.4 million tons of rock material have been laid to form the caisson base layer.

Meanwhile, dredging in the Sampierdarena channel and outer harbour has gathered more than 85,000 cubic metres of material in order to fill the caissons. Divers working under hyperbaric conditions have completed the clearance of underwater ordnances, one of the unique features of the project.

There are 520 people directly and directly involved in the breakwater’s construction, supported by a supply chain of more than 300 suppliers since the start of works. 

The New Genova Breakwater is Italy’s answer to the challenges posed by the major ports of the Northern Europe. With this infrastructure, Genoa will become the preferred gateway for East-West routes, shortening shipping distances compared to North Sea ports. In synergy the Terzo Valico di Giovi–Genoa Junction Project, also being built by Webuild, the breakwater will help create a modern, sustainable and integrated infrastructure system. This competitive advantage will mean fewer emissions, reduced traffic congestion, and greater transport efficiency for major trade routes.