The ninth edition of Un mare di Svizzera took place on 9 October at LAC Lugano Arte e Cultura under the title “Infrastrutture a scadenza, logistica da reinventare: e se fosse il dopo green?”. The international forum on logistics and transport, organised by the Lugano International Logistics Forum (LILF) and ASTAG Sezione Ticino with the Ports of Genoa as institutional partner, brought together Italian and Swiss institutional representatives, shipping and logistics operators and business leaders.

Opening the proceedings, in the session “Mediterraneo nel segno del futuro. La rivincita dei porti del Sud: la nuova logistica e la nuova finanza delle infrastrutture”, Matteo Paroli, president of the Western Ligurian Sea Port Authority, addressed the impact of geopolitical crises on maritime traffic and the prospects of the Ligurian port system on Central European markets.

At the heart of his address was the resilience of the Western Ligurian Sea port system despite international tensions and the critical situation affecting the Red Sea and the Suez Canal for three years: rerouting via the Cape of Good Hope has lengthened sailing times and raised costs for shipping lines, with the risk of Mediterranean ports losing competitiveness to Northern European ports, a phenomenon that has so far manifested only marginally.

Particular attention went to the Swiss market, for which the Ligurian ports are a natural gateway to the Mediterranean: staying competitive requires stable connections, reliable services and a logistics chain able to operate in a coordinated way. Supply security was also raised, including difficulties with river connections to Basel and their impact on transport times and costs.

My predecessors spoke of works that would one day exist. I am in the position to speak of works that are beginning to exist, that can be seen and are becoming reality.

Matteo Paroli, president of the Western Ligurian Sea Port Authority, at Un mare di Svizzera 9, quoted by Ports of Genoa on 9 October 2026

The Authority’s infrastructure investment programme totals 3.6 billion euros: Genoa’s new outer breakwater has passed 1,600 metres of development, and new road links opened in June removed around a thousand trucks from urban roads during the summer season. On security, a pilot project in the ports of Genoa and Savona will monitor harbour waters and quays with drones carrying optical, infrared and thermal systems.

Decisive for the system’s future will be completion of the Terzo Valico dei Giovi rail link, part of a 10.6-billion-euro rail upgrade programme: works due to finish in 2027 with operations indicated for 2028, alongside synchronised works on the ports’ rail last mile to expand the commercial basin toward Switzerland, southern Germany and Central Europe. Genoa’s goal, Adnkronos reports, is 5 million TEU: the outer breakwater, the Terzo Valico and Alpine connections are indispensable but not sufficient; the match is played on the competitiveness of the whole logistics chain.

In the roundtable “Green, ma un po’ meno green”, Assarmatori president Stefano Messina said that since shipping entered the ETS regime Italy’s contribution has exceeded 1.4 billion euros, yet the sector has so far seen no benefit, despite being entitled to it and needing it for fleet renewal, sea-road-rail logistics efficiency and alternative fuels. The association’s efforts focus on three exposed segments: container transshipment, connections with the major islands and the Motorways of the Sea.

For the Liguria Region, councillor Alessandro Piana pointed to the Rhine-Alpine corridor as the shared backbone of Ligurian and Swiss ports and businesses, setting 2030 as the target for a continuous, digitalised transport flow with every phase synchronised in real time. According to the programme, institutional greetings included Lugano mayor Michele Foletti, Genoa deputy mayor Alessandro Terrile, Liguria Region president Marco Bucci, Ticino state councillor Norman Gobbi, deputy minister Edoardo Rixi and Council of States member Fabio Regazzi.