Webuild, through the PerGenova Breakwater consortium for the Western Ligurian Sea Port Authority, recently achieved a significant construction milestone by successfully positioning the twelfth caisson on the seabed off the coast of Liguria, Italy.

Looking ahead, by the end of August 2025, work will begin on deploying larger caissons—each up to 67 meters long, 35 meters wide, and 33 meters high—which dwarf the dimensions of typical marine structures. These massive units will be handled using the Tronds Barge 33, a specialized semi-submersible barge measuring 110 meters in length and 45 meters in width. Its ability to submerge up to 20 meters below the water’s surface allows for precise and efficient placement of these enormous caissons. The operation currently involves over 450 workers, both direct and indirect, with expectations that workforce levels will increase as larger caissons enter production and deployment phases. When complete, the New Genoa Breakwater will stretch approximately 6.2 kilometers and reach depths of up to 50 meters, making it not only the deepest breakwater in Europe but also a transformative upgrade to the Port of Genoa. This development enables access for next-generation vessels—container ships and cruise liners up to 400 meters long—and cements Genoa’s strategic position along the Rhine–Alpine Corridor of the TEN-T Trans-European Transport Network.

Built entirely offshore, the breakwater is slowly taking shape with the pouring of more than 2,200 tonnes of gravel onto the seabed and the construction of 41,000 columns underwater. The length of these columns side by side has reached 478,000 metres, more than half of the total length planned for the breakwater. The New Genoa Breakwater is a strategic project aimed at enhancing logistics in the country by combining innovation, environmental sustainability, and a shared vision. Together with the one being built by Webuild, it will help create a modern and integrated infrastructure system capable of meeting the challenges of mobility and global trade.