The Société d’Exploitation des Ports de Monaco is seeking to expand its ownership of yacht harbours in Italy, and is now targeting the old port of Sanremo, according to its president, Aleco Keusseoglou.

“We are currently studying a project on the old port of Sanremo which belongs to the municipality. The idea is to completely redo this port. There is major work (to be done) on the harbour but also near the port. As in Cala Del Forte. Ultimately, we could have more than 50 berths in this port for units over 30 metres,” he said last week.

The Port Authority has successfully transformed the port at Cala Del Forte, Ventimiglia, which is now open for business. It is also the lead developer of the old port 40 minutes from Rome, at Civitavecchia. Work is expected to start in 2022.

Closer to home, the Authority is preparing to submit a tender to operate the port of Cap d’Ail when the current concession expires in 2027.

Monaco’s own ports, at Port Hercule and Fontvieille, are unable to cope with demand from yacht owners.

FILE PHOTO: Ventimiglia Port during an early stage of reconstruction