Page:NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE SURVEY 17; ITALY; TRANSPORTATION AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS CIA-RDP01-00707R000200080003-4.pdf/25

 APPROVED FOR RELEASE: 2009/06/16: CIA-RDP01-00707R000200080003-4

in Gela and Termini Imerese and from Bronte to Catania.

No major crude oil or refined products pipelines are planned, but Italy has two important large-diameter international natural gas pipelines under construction. A 500-mile line is being built to bring natural gas to Italy from the Netherlands through West Germany and Switzerland; this line will terminate at Mortara, southwest of Milan. The second international line will allow natural gas from the Soviet Union to be piped across Czechoslovakia and Austria to Tarvisio, Italy. The Italian segment will continue southwestward to its terminal at Seregno, north of Milan. Both lines are scheduled for completion by the end of 1973. In addition, Italy is studying plans to construct a large-diameter natural gas pipeline across the Mediterranean from Algerian fields.

Details of selected pipelines are given in Figure 8.

G. Ports (C)

Oceangoing vessels can berth alongside in the 16 major and 22 significant minor ports, which are located on the mainland and the islands of Sicily and Sardinia.

The mountainous nature of Italy, its geographical position at the crossroads of the Mediterranean, and the fact that over 90% of the country is within 75 miles of the coast have made it one of the leading maritime nations. The relative scarcity of large bays and natural harbors has necessitated the construction of extensive artificial protective works as expansion of ports has taken place. Harbor space in all but a few ports is at a premium. Mediterranean mooring is widely used to conserve space, cargo being lightened ashore.

Most of the major ports are on the mainland and are fairly well distributed along the Adriatic, Ligurian, and Tyrrhenian seacoasts; Catania, Messina, and Palermo are major ports in Sicily; Cagliari is the capital and chief port of Sardinia. Genoa and Savona on the northern part of the west coast and Venice-Marghera at the head of the Adriatic handle the major share of traffic to and from the northern industrial centers. Livorno is an outlet for the north-central cities of Florence, Bologna, and Perugia. Trieste, also at the head of the Adriatic, handles traffic primarily in transit to and from Austria and Czechoslovakia. Naples, second only to Genoa in activity, is the principal focal point for central and southern Italy. Adriatic commerce and trade with the Middle East are carried on through the smaller Adriatic ports of Bari, Brindisi, and Ancona. Barletta, about 35 miles northwest of Bari, is a fishing port that has limited traffic. Taranto, in southern Italy, and La Spezia are significant as naval bases; the latter is also important commercially.

Most Italian ports are under the direct ownership and control of the state through the Ministry of Merchant Marine. Two exceptions are Genoa and Trieste, which are governed by autonomous port associations. The major ports are well equipped and efficient and are considered adequate for normal requirements. The principal naval bases, La Spezia, Taranto, and Messina, provide varying degrees of operational and logistical support to fleet units.

Various expansion and renovation projects are envisioned for the major ports under a 5-year plan (1971-75). Some of the projects include construction of container terminals, berthing for supertankers, and a bridge over the Messina strait to connect Sicily with the mainland by 1977. Plans are being drawn up for a new port at Voltri, some 4 miles west of Genoa. The earliest date for completion of this project, which includes three container facilities and a number of roll-on roll-off berths, is 1980. Planned for Naples is a container marshaling, storage, and clearance area some 12 miles from the main port. Funds have already been appropriated to modernize and enlarge existing port facilities. Present general cargo traffic is expected to grow considerably because of new industries settling in the Naples area and in southern Italy. Work is proceeding on a new commercial basin at Marghera, to which the free port will later be transferred. In addition, oil traffic is being rerouted via the Malamocco canal to bypass Venice proper to the San Leonardo petroleum docks. This canal is to have depths sufficient for large tankers and is ultimately to extend to Marghera. In Trieste, Pier VII has recently been completed as a facility for container ships, but so far no handling equipment has been provided. Pier VII is a transshipment point for an expected large trade in containerized fruit and vegetables which will move from Greece, Israel, Turkey, and other Middle East ports through Trieste to Northern Europe.

Details of the major ports are tabulated in Figure 9.

H. Merchant marine (C)

Despite Italy's heavy reliance on maritime transport, the merchant fleet's carrying capacity has not kept pace with the country's annual growth in international seaborne trade; Italy has increasingly depended upon foreign-flag shipping for the carriage of this trade. In 1969 the fleet carried about 23% of the total volume of seaborne imports and exports and in 1970. about 21%. As a result of more funds paid out

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APPROVED FOR RELEASE: 2009/06/16: CIA-RDP01-00707R000200080003-4