New “ports plan” for Lazio: more than 3,000 berths on the way

A wave of change is coming for recreational boating in Lazio. New berths, state-of-the-art facilities and an ambitious vision for the future: the new Porti Plan is a reality. But will this promise be able to translate into reality for powerboat enthusiasts?

The Lazio Regional Council has given the green light to a long-awaited project, the“Plan of Ports of Regional Economic Interest.” A document that on paper looks like a real panacea for those who live their passion for the sea aboard their motorboat. But what does this plan mean concretely for boaters? And most importantly, when will we be able to enjoy these improvements?

A long-overdue reversal of course

For years, industry experts and enthusiasts have been stressing the crucial importance of marinas as true nerve centers for the spread of nautical culture. Modern and welcoming facilities along the coasts of our country are not only a driving force for tourism, but also an engine for the economy, considering Italy’s strategic position in the heart of the Mediterranean. Finally, it seems that institutions have also fully understood this need.

In the wake of the national “Sea Plan,” which recognizes tourist ports as a full-fledged “industrial” sector, Lazio has decided to speed things up with this new plan. The goal is clear: to completely redesign the face of tourist ports along the Lazio coast.

What concretely changes for us boaters

Lazio’s new Ports Plan is a real update from the old plan, which is even dated 2007. The ambition is to create a coastal development model that starts precisely from ports and tourist landings.

One of the most interesting new features of the project is the increase in available berths. As many as 7 new landings are expected to be built in the municipalities of Tarquinia, Montalto di Castro, Ladispoli, Ponza, Latina (Rio Martino), Terracina, and Formia. Each landing place is expected to offer 300 to 500 berths, for a total of about 2,500 to 4,000 new berths. A breath of fresh air for an industry often penalized by a shortage of space.

New moorings, better services, and environmentally sustainable practices

Not only new berths, but also improved services offered. We are talking about boat maintenance, qualified technical assistance, fuel and water supply, and electricity supply. Safer infrastructure, with state-of-the-art docks, piers, lighting and signage. Finally, a key aspect is the promotion of eco-friendly practices, with the use of renewable energy, efficient waste management, and protection of marine ecosystems. An issue close to the hearts of all of us sea lovers.

The plan also aims for greater integration of the port system with existing infrastructure, such as railways and roads. The idea is to facilitate access to ports and make travel easier for boaters and tourists. In short, on paper, Lazio’s new Ports Plan looks like a real revolution for recreational boating. More moorings, better services, attention to the environment-a dream for those who love to plow the waves aboard their motorboat.

Good ideas, but what is the expected time frame?

However, one question arises: when will we be able to see these changes concretely? The bureaucratic procedures for obtaining maritime state concessions are notoriously long and complex. The risk is that this plan, while well-intentioned, will end up getting bogged down in a thousand bureaucratic quibbles and obstacles, becoming yet another “ghost port.”

We powerboat enthusiasts sincerely hope that this will not happen. We want to believe that Lazio can become a region at the forefront of recreational boating, with modern, efficient and environmentally friendly ports. But trusting is good, not trusting is better. All we can do is keep our eyes open and carefully monitor how the situation evolves, hoping that we will soon be able to set sail into a less uncertain future with more available berths.

David Ingiosi