The “Benigno Zaccagnini” and “Luciano Cavalcoli” breakwaters
The Chamber of Commerce supports the necessity of developing the port of Ravenna, in order to adjust it to the goal of pursuing an industrial growth.
On request of the Chamber of Commerce, the civil engineers drafted a master plan for the port area, which recovered and developed the earlier plans from the 40s.
Enrico Mattei’s intervention leads to a decisive acceleration by the mid-fifties, thanks to the political mediation provided by Benigno Zaccagnini. The businessman chooses Ravenna as the site for the future ENI petrochemical pole.
In order to adjust the port to the improved requirements, impressive enough to cause the transformation of the docks of Ravenna in a site of crucial national relevance, on 28 June 1957 the SAPIR (“Società per Azioni del Porto Industriale di Ravenna”, i.e. Joint Stock Company for Ravenna’s Industrial Port) was founded.
Even more important is the approvation, by the end of the same year, of the so-called “Zaccagni Law”, which establishes the direct duty for the government to perform the enlargement and deepening of Porto Corsini.
The project, drafted by professor Luigi Greco, requires a crucial excavation of the seabed in order to reach a depth of roughlyten meters, the enlargement of the Canal Candiano for a stretch of roughly six kilometers, and the construction of two long breakwaters.
Northern “Luciano Cavalcoli” breakwater
Northern “Luciano Cavalcoli” breakwater. Click to expand.
The northern breakwater, dedicated to the Chamber of Commerce and Sapir president Luciano Cavalcoli, is 2250 meters long.
Southern “Benigno Zaccagnini” breakwater
Southern “Benigno Zaccagnini” breakwater. Click to expand.
The southern breakwater, on the other side, is dedicated to Benigno Zaccagnini, and is 2450 meters long.
The case of Ljmuiden
The case of Ljmuiden . Click to expand.
Just like in the case of the Dutch port of Ijmuiden, the aim of the breakwaters, which are Lupposed to be rooted on the mainland in order to facilitate the ships maneuvers, is to protect the entrance to the canal from a possible siltation.
On 4 August 1958, at the presence of the main protagonists of the enterprise, including deputate Benigno Zaccagnini, SAPIR president Luciano Cavalcoli, engineer Luigi Greco, the mayor of Ravenna Celso Cicognani and minister for public works Giuseppe Togni, the foundation stone of the new breakwaters is laid.
The works for the construction of the two breakwaters were completed in 1962, while those for the modernization of the port ended in 1971.
