The shipping platform

Location: Ancona is situated on Italy's Adriatic coast, between Venice in the N and Bari in the S. General overview: Ancona is the only harbour between Porto di Manfredonia (41°37.0'N 015°55.0'E) and Ravenna (44°30.0'N 012°17.0'E) affording shelter or accommodation to large vessels. There is good holding ground in the bay. The Port of Ancona has over six kilometers of quays with depths to 15 meters, 25 piers, almost 20 kilometers of rail tracks, sixteen yards, and two dry docks. It is a true multi-functional port serving east central Italy. The port covers a total area of 1.4 million square meters, divided into passenger and ferry terminals, container terminals and plants for solid bulk. It has a strategic function in the Adriatic-Ionian Macro Region, as a terminal for international ferry lines to Greece, Croatia, and Albania. Regularly-scheduled cruise ferries link Ancona with Croatia (Split, Zadar, Hvar Island), Albania (Durres), Greece (Patras, Igoumenitsa, Corfu), Italy (Venice). Among the largest ferry companies are SNAV, Adria Ferries, Minoan Lines, Anek Superfast, Jadrolinija (Croatia). The principal commodities handled are logs, timber, wood pulp, china clay, steel coils and pipes, iron scraps, coal, grains (soybeans, maize, wheat, barley, broad beans, etc), cement, trucks and trailers by Ro-Ro, containers, vegetable oil. The entrance is N of a breakwater and shoaling may, in some instances, make towage advisable. Heavy winter seas can make the more exposed parts of the port unworkable. Vessels using the tanker facilities may proceed to Falconara Terminal (approximately 8km NW), directly following pratique clearance. Traffic figures: Approx 8,500,000t of cargo, including 110,400TEU and 1,655,000 passengers handled annually. Load line zone: Summer. Max size: -Ancona Harbour: LOA 250, draught 12.2m. -Falconara Terminal Sea Island: LOA 260m, draught 12.1m, 90,000DWT. -API SPM: Draught 28.9m, 400,000DWT. Largest vessel called at the port: LOA: 334 m, draught: 10.2 m, deadweight: 64012 t.