Sicilian Port Authorities at Seatrade Miami 2003 showing their excellent performance and good prospects

The Sicilian Port Authorities of Palermo Catania and Messina are present at Seatrade Cruise Shipping Conference 2003 in Miami , renewing the brilliant initiative experienced in 2001 at Seatrade in Miami and in 2002 at Seatrade in Genova and at Cruise & Ferry Conference in London of a join participation.

In 2003 the synergistic participation of the three Sicilian Port Authorities is helped and strengthened through the unprecedented attendance of the Regione Siciliana – Council for Tourism, Communication and Transport, which provides a substantial support to allow a thorough presence of the whole island with its top institutions.

During the 2002 the three main ports of the charming Sicily island, in the South of Italy, have reported record results in terms of cruise traffic. With over 428,081 passengers, for 424 ship calls, the three Sicilian ports registered + 10% increase on 2001.

Palermo
outstanding customers were the companies Costa Crociere, Festival Cruise, Thompson, MSC, Cunard, Holland American Lines, Peter Deilman Cruise, Louis Cruise Line, and the ships Costa Victoria, Costa Tropicale, Bolero, Mistral, Topaz, Melody, Noordam, Constellation, Sea Cloud and Berlin.
The Port Authority has completed an investment of about 1 million Euro to upgrade the cruise terminal located on Molo Vittorio Veneto pier by realising an automated handling system for the baggage, modelled on those used in the international airports remarkably speeding up embarkation and disembarkation phases; at present a project to build a second mobile gangway is under planning.

Messina
outstanding customers were the companies NCL, Cunard, P&O, Royal Caribbean Cruise Line and the ships Norway, Queen Elizabeth 2, Oriana, Legend of the Seas.
Founded by the Greek colonists some centuries B.C., the city of Messina has large remains of the Norman and Catalan domination. Messina is located on the Straits that separate Sicily from the Continent. Not far from the city is the port of Milazzo, from where daily excursions to the unique archipelago of the Eolian islands can be organised. Other interesting things to be visited around are the Greek town of Tindari, with Roman rests too, and the archaelogical site of Giardini Naxos, that is also a famous beach resort.

Catania
outstanding customers were the companies Costa Crociere, Nouvelle Frontieres, Arkona Cruises, Aida Cruises and Peter Deilmann and the ships Costa Riviera, Costa Allegra, Aida, Palmira and Albatros.
The Port Authority is currently engaged in an expansion project that foresees a new structure to welcome passengers as well as to enlarge the 280-m long wharf so to accommodate two long cruise vessels altogether.