Garda Port Management Challenges and Initiatives for Lake Safety
On Lake Garda, it is necessary to standardize the management of ports and the regulations governing navigation and the use of the lake’s public domain in a short timeframe. This is essential to safeguard this natural jewel and ensure the safety of those who sail on it. The Garda Community, which has its own stand at the 40th International Nautical Salon in Genoa (until October 22), has repeatedly urged the relevant authorities to resolve this long-standing issue definitively.
The Bassanini Law, long ago, established the transfer of competencies related to port management to local authorities. This underscores the need to coordinate this pivotal transition. Clearly, suddenly, the Municipalities do not have the means and tools to handle this additional responsibility. Fortunately, on Garda, most villages have a sailing club.
This means, beyond the sporting aspect, an extensive heritage of nautical knowledge and expertise. These sports associations are rooted locally, are non-profit, and are managed by passionate enthusiasts with proven experience. In addition, bureaucratic and legal facilities facilitate their relations with public administrations.
Examples and initiatives in port management
One example: the Fraglia vela Desenzano, which has managed the Maratona port in the provincial capital of Lower Garda Brescia for years. This exemplifies the integration and resource optimization among public entities, specifically the Municipalities and private entities like nautical clubs. This foundation allows for the creation of joint management companies.
Within this framework, the Garda Community, based in Gardone Riviera, functions as a coordinator or interregional authority. However, the new law regarding navigation on Garda, which must be approved by Lombardy, Veneto, and the autonomous province of Trento, is still just a chimera; the latest version, which has not been ratified jointly by Venice, Milan, and Trento, dates back to 1983.
It is also stipulated that representatives from the two regions and the provinces involved in regulating navigation on Garda must meet at least once a year before November 30. But these «anomalies» do not end there; Lombardy has already practically implemented the provisions of the Bassanini Law for port management. Conversely, the Province of Trento and Veneto have not yet done so.
It is hoped that, in this area, effective and proactive action will be taken not only by the Garda Community, which is present with a stand at the 40th International Nautical Salon in Genoa, but also by the Unione di Navigazione Interna Italiana (Unii), based in Venice. Until a few months ago, this was presided over by the former regional transport assessor Raffaele Bazzoni.
This organization, lesser known by many, was established in 1999. The Unii comprises representatives from Regions, Municipalities, Provinces, Chambers of commerce, port companies, industrial development consortia, and private companies interested in inland water navigation. Among the various companies affiliated with Unii is also the Scaligera Veronesi.
The Unii‘s goals include standardizing bureaucratic and administrative procedures and promoting, also from a legislative perspective, relations among local authorities, port inspectors, navigation offices, and port authorities.