Mazara del Vallo port dredging stalled after contract termination

Dredging operations at the port of Mazara del Vallo have reached a standstill, with works reportedly halted since February 2025. The situation has escalated following the termination of the contract with the company previously tasked with the intervention.

A central conflict involves a dispute over approximately 800,000 euros in remaining funds. While the contractor deemed the amount insufficient to complete the project, the commissioner structure for hydrogeological instability deemed the suspension of works unjustified, leading to the contract's dissolution.

Further delays are expected as a new tender must be issued to remove materials deposited in the 'Colmata B' area before dredging can resume. Meanwhile, local authorities and the Western Sicily Port Authority remain at odds regarding the management of nearly five million euros in compensation funds from Eni. Mayor Terenziano Di Stefano has sought a definitive timeline for the works, but the Port Authority maintains that the funds are under its sole discretion and cannot be revoked as requested by the municipal council.