Changing The Intended Use Of A Port Area: When And How It Is Possible

In Italy, the overall area of operation and organisational structure of a port – including areas designated for industrial production, shipyard activities and road and rail infrastructure – are set out in the Port Master Plan. This is in accordance with Article 5 of the Italian Port Law (Law No. 84/94), which inter alia provides that the Port Master Plan shall identify "the characteristics and functional use of the areas concerned" (Article 5, paragraph 1, Law No. 84/94).

It should be noted, however, that not all Italian ports have a Master Plan in place and that a Master Plan can – depending on the port concerned – either consist in a complex and detailed document or in a mere layout of the port specifying the intended uses of the relevant areas.