"The port of Castellammare cannot be governed by tenders": appeal from the Democrats and Progressives

Castellammare – Piecemeal initiatives, a lack of coherent planning, and patchy interventions. The latest call for tenders issued by the Central Tyrrhenian Sea Port Authority for the awarding of seven lots for recreational boating—followed by the end of the year by those for clubs—has reignited the debate over the future of the port of Castellammare di Stabia.

This procedural approach is being challenged by operators and local authorities, who believe that managing the Stabia coast cannot be reduced to a simple sequence of administrative deadlines and concessions.

The key issue, according to a document from the Stabia Democrats and Progressives, remains the lack of a strategic plan capable of leveraging the history and potential of the maritime basin. While the work of local operators, the Circolo Nautico, and entities like Stabia Main Port represent excellence, the Port Authority's action appears sporadic. Both coastal hubs—the Porto Antico with the historic shipyard and the Corderie, and the Marina di Stabia tourist port—are currently experiencing a stalemate following the redevelopments of the 80s and 90s, threatened by the presence of abandoned areas and overall urban decay.

Nearly twenty years after the port of Stabia joined the Port System Authority and the completion of the offshore works at Marina di Stabia, many uncertainties remain unresolved. This is compounded by the lack of clarity regarding the completion timeline for the onshore works at Marina di Stabia—where the outcome of the conference of services related to the ZES is pending—and the absence of answers regarding crucial issues for the Old Port: from the fate of the Montil and the silos to the crucial decision regarding the construction of the dock to protect the shipyard.

Criticism also surrounds the management of public funding. Despite the protocol signed with the Municipality in May 2025, uncertainties over the implementation of the Port Master Plan and the Strategic Plan have contributed to the city's exclusion from the €450 million in European funds allocated to the area, in addition to the revocation of €35 million in government funding earmarked for the Port and Fincantieri.

At a delicate stage, currently marked by the Municipality's administration under special administration, the local community is calling for a breakthrough: moving beyond the emergency scenario and connecting the port with the historic center, the thermal spa heritage, and the entire tourist transportation system. The proposal on the table is the rapid definition of a "Development Agreement" to be signed with the Campania Region and the Metropolitan City of Naples, supported by entities such as Invitalia and Sviluppo Campania. The goal is to arrange an urgent meeting with the Port Authority to ensure that Castellammare returns to being a direct participant in decisions regarding its territory.