by EH
A surprising turn of events is on the horizon for the Wärtsilä dispute: the shipping and logistics giant MSC may step in to acquire the Rosandra’s Bagnoli plant, bringing all employees back into the fold.
The bombshell revelation came from Gianluigi Aponte, the founder and owner of Mediterranean Shipping Company, during a meeting in Genoa with Liguria Region President Giovanni Toti and Deputy Minister of Infrastructure Edoardo Rixi. The news broke through the pages of “Il Piccolo” in Trieste, “Il Secolo XIX” in Genoa, and the specialized website “Shipmag”.
“We’ve struck a deal,” Aponte announced in an interview with Il Secolo XIX, as reported by Il Piccolo. “Wärtsilä shuttered a plant that manufactured engines,” he continued, “letting go of 300 workers. We’ll absorb these 300 individuals and convert the site into a facility for manufacturing railway cars, specifically designed for freight railways. These are specialized vehicles that can handle heavier loads. It’s a valuable asset that fits our needs.”
Reportedly, MSC intends to take on all workers by acquiring the Wärtsilä plant and repurposing it for railway car production. Aponte’s group holds a significant stake in Medway, a railway company with operations in Italy and across Europe, and through another entity, MedLog, they’re a major player in logistics. Additionally, MSC recently acquired a majority share in Italo, a key player in Italy’s high-speed rail sector, with plans to expand into freight transport. This move to manufacture railway cars for containers could significantly bolster MSC’s competitive edge.
“It’s an unexpected development,” remarked Antonio Rodà, the Trieste secretary of Uil, “a positive surprise. The interest of a major player like MSC is encouraging, but we need to verify the details of this announcement.” “The scenario seems plausible, especially given the strategic location of the industrial site,” Rodà added, “which could accommodate various industrial activities. However, it’s still early days: MSC’s involvement hasn’t been confirmed.”
There’s a need to further investigate and understand the situation, with the upcoming ministerial meeting on the program agreement providing the first opportunity. The timing and logistics of absorbing Wärtsilä employees also require clarification. While no one is getting ahead of themselves, the prospect of MSC, already a significant presence in Trieste’s port traffic, taking on this role appears feasible.
Aponte had previously shown interest in Trieste’s industrial zone. Back in 2017, the MSC leader had toured the former Wärtsilä area when plans were underway to transition two warehouses to the Fernetti interport, effectively establishing a free retro-port zone.
With the news now circulating, phone lines are buzzing between Trieste, Rome, and Genoa. The coming hours promise to shed more light on this developing situation.
