La Spezia

Water density

1025.

Deepest first. The draught is the largest any of the terminal's berths states; a dash means the source gives none.

Approach

The port is approached from the SE through Golfo di La Spezia which lies between Isola del Tino (44°01.6'N., 009°51.0'E) and Capo Corvo (44°02.2'E., 009°57.9'E). Vessels entering or leaving the port are to follow one of the recommended tracks. The detatched breakwater, Diga Foranea, is 0.8nm long and is located between Punta Santa Teresa and Punta Santa Maria, with an entrance at either end. It is worth noting that the surface of the aforementioned breakwater is occasionally awash along the central part.

Passo di Levante is the NE'ly entrance to the port is 228m wide with depths of 11m. 1 Passo de Ponente is the SW'ly (main) entrance to the port and is 410m wide with depths of 13.9m. Darsena Duca degli Abruzzi is the entrance to the naval base and enclosed by three moles. The channel has depths of 11.2m and is indicated by lighted buoys.

Port limits

The port limits are within the boundary walls, buildings and waters defined as internal between the root of Molo Italia, in approximate position (44°06.3'N., 009°49.8'E), and Punta Calandriello (44°04.9'N., 009°52.8'E).

Traffic schemes and VTS

Participation in the VTS is mandatory for all vessels of 300GT and over and optional but recommend for all other vessels.

Reporting: Reporting Points have been established along the VTS limits, expressed as bearing to Isola del Tono Light (44°01.60'N., 009°51.00'E).

Vessels are to send a prior request to the VTS Centre when wishing to transit through the area. The vessels are then required to maintain a listening watch on VHF Ch 74. Vessels are also required to navigate with particular care, and check their position constantly. In the event of any polluting cargo then the vessel must inform the Harbormaster’s Office as soon as possible.

Anchorages

Ships anchor in good holding ground within the harbour area of depths 6.0-12.0m. All vessels in the Rada Interna and Rada Esterna anchorages are required to maintain a continuous listening watch on VHF Ch 74. VHF channels 16 and 14 may also be used.

Tankers of up to 10.5m draught can anchor 0.7nm x 290°, or 0.3nm x 325° from the NE end of the breakwater, mud, good holding ground. Tankers can also anchor 0.5nm SSE of the NE end of the breakwater. An area in which fishing is prohibited is situated S of this anchorage. Anchorage for vessels up to 10.0m draught is recommended 1nm SE of the SW end of the breakwater; deeper vessels should anchor 1nm E of Isola del Tino.

There are fourteen numbered anchor berths in the Outer Roads in depths of 12.0-17.0m; the berths are allocated by the harbour master. Restrictions apply to some berths.

Prohibited anchorage: Anchorage is prohibited in Rada di La Spezia and within 0.05nm of the shore or the pierheads between Molo Cantiere Ansaldo, 0.6nm NW of the NE end of the breakwater, and Molo dei Pagliari, 1nm further NNW. On account of submarine cables, anchorage is also prohibited on or near the line joining "B2" mooring buoy, 0.6nm N of the SW end of the breakwater, to "B3" mooring buoy, 0.65nm further NNW, and then ENE to Punta San Bartolomeo.

Authorisation from the harbour master must be obtained prior to proceeding to the anchorages.

Restrictions

The whole of Rada di La Spezia may be used for exercising Italian military seaplanes. Any vessel in the vicinity of a seaplane alighting or taking off is to stop, and not cause an obstruction.

Vessels are normally berthed by day or night except at the Arco Petrolifer CBM oil terminal moorings.

Entry to the port is prohibited in the NE section and are best seen on the chart.

Tugs

There are 10 tugs up to 4,500hp capacity available. Available Mon-Fri, 0700-2300hrs.

Mooring

There are numerous mooring buoys within Rada di La Spezia, most are marked with a letter and number and reserved for naval use; the captain of the port may approve use by merchant vessels. Large vessels conducting compass adjustment use the buoy moored 0.4nm NNE of the SW end of the breakwater; several other buoys are moored in this area.

Charts and publications

BA 118, 8239, 1914, 1998. Admiralty Pilot NP46, NP286(3).

Health

Ship Sanitation Control Certificate and Ship Sanitation Control Exemption Certificates renewed.

Notices and regulations

These vessels must approach the port using the Centre Route (Rotta de Mezzo) and depart using the West Route (Rotta di Ponente).

Vessels with draughts exceeding 9.4m have precedence in the dredged fairway channel which leads to the MBM at the SE side of the Garibaldi Pier, provided Flag D of the International Code is displayed by day or a red, white, and another red light are shown vertically at night.

Right of way: Vessels towing have precedence over all others. Vessels leaving have priority over vessels entering. Small craft must keep clear of military and commercial vessels.

Prohibited areas: Two floating light beacons moored in positions (44°02.8'N., 009°55.2'E) and (44°02.1'N., 009°56.6'E) are connected to exercise mines; mooring to or boarding the beacons is prohibited.

Seno della Castagna (44°03.8'N., 009°51.0'E) is a prohibited area and closed to all non-military vessels.

Seno di Varigano, 0.2nm NW of Seno della Castagna; entry is prohibited unless authorised by the military authorities.

Commercial shipping and small craft are prohibited from approaching Porto Militare or entering the basins of naval dockyard unless authorised.

Navigation inshore of a line, enclosing Seno de Panigaglia (44°04.6'N., 009°50.0'E) is prohibited except for naval, police or customs vessels, vessels berthing at Pontile SNAM. or providing services to the terminal.

Entry to an inlet between Punta di Maramozza (44°04.0'N., 009°54.8'E) and Punta di Maralunga, 0.25nm W, is prohibited.

HARBOUR REGULATIONS: Merchant vessels are only permitted to remain in Golgo de La Spezia to conduct commercial operations, repairs or refitting at the discretion of the Commandante Militare or the Capitano di Porto.

Salvage of any material from the seabed of Golfo di La Spezia is prohibited without prior permission from the Capitano di Porto.

Boats belonging to merchant vessels may land at Banchina Revel of Molo Italia.

It is forbidden to swing a vessel for compass adjustment in any area in which anchoring is prohibited and at anchor berths in the Inner Roads.

Parts of the inner gulf may be used by seaplanes. Vessels, which happen to be in the vicinity of seaplanes taking off or landing, must come to a stop and wait until the operations are completed.

Commercial vessels are not to secure to any of the mooring buoys in the port harbour without permission of the relevant authorities.

Port State Control here: Paris MOU.

Running now: the Paris and Tokyo MOU concentrated inspection campaign on cargo securing, 1 September to 30 November 2026. Its questions are published: the questionnaire.

ISPS

ISPS Designated Authority: Italian Coast Guard Headquarters, Legal Department.

Address: Viale dell'Arte 16, I-00146 Rome, Italy.

Tel: +39 06 590 841 87.

Fax: +39 06 596 482 93.

Email: [email protected]

Website: http://www.guardiacostiera.gov.it

For further ISPS information see IMO website http://www.imo.org

Repairs

Wide range of repairs available, also divers available.

Bunkers, water and stores

Fresh water: Available by barge and at berths.

Bunkering: Available by barge and at berths.

Stores: All types of provisions available.

Medical

Nearest hospital: Civil Hospital Sant'Andrea di La Spezia (1.05km). Further additional medical facilities are located throughout La Spezia.

Transport

Nearest airport: Pisa International Airport (64.50km), Genova City Airport (85.50km), Parma Airport (86.90km), Reggio Emilia Airport (92.55km) and Riviera Airport (137.80km).

Nearest highway: The port has access to the European Route E80 (Trans-European Motorway). The E80 runs 6,102km from Lisbon, Portugal in the W to Gurbulak, Turkey in the E.

Nearest railway: Stazione di La Spezia Centrale (2.50km). The port also has direct rail access with Contiship Italia providing a fleet of 360 wagons and 15 interoperable locomotives. There are approx 3.5km of port roads and 17km of rail tracks that lead directly to the national road and rail networks.

Nearest public transport: Bus routes throughout La Spezia.

What time zone is La Spezia in?

Local time at La Spezia is UTC+1. Clocks go to UTC+2 on 28 Mar 2027. Back to UTC+1 on 31 Oct 2027.

What is the maximum draft at La Spezia?

The deepest berth listed is at La Spezia Container Terminal (LSCT): 14.00 m maximum draught. The "Max draft per terminal" table gives each terminal's figure.

What is the water density at La Spezia?

1025.

Who carries out Port State Control at La Spezia?

Port State Control at La Spezia: Paris MOU.

What is the UN/LOCODE of La Spezia?

The UN/LOCODE of La Spezia is ITSPE.

What crews who called at La Spezia say: pilot boarding, the agent's papers, inspections, shore leave. Each tip is shown with the writer's rank and ship type, and an AI summary sits on top once there are three or more.

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