Bari, Italy

Port Overview

Bari is a major port city located on the southeast coast of Italy, along the Adriatic Sea. It ranks among the largest ports in southern Italy and is a key gateway for trade and passenger traffic between Italy, the Balkans, and the Middle East. Bari’s strategic importance lies in its role as a primary hub for ferry and cruise connections to Greece, Albania, and Croatia. The port handles over 2 million passengers annually and has a container throughput capacity of approximately 110,000 TEU per year.

Facilities & Infrastructure

Bari’s main port facilities include multipurpose terminals for containers, Ro-Ro, bulk, and general cargo, as well as a modern cruise terminal. Key areas are the Grande Basin, Ponente Dock, Levante Dock, Old Dock, and Internal Dock. The port offers over 2.5 km of quays with depths up to 12.5 meters, extensive storage areas, refrigerated warehouses, and container repair facilities. Equipment includes mobile cranes, reach stackers, and terminal tractors; AGVs are not currently in operation.

Container Terminals

Bari’s container terminal has approximately 2-3 berths dedicated to container operations, with an annual capacity ranging from 20,000 to 81,500 TEU. The terminal is not highly automated and relies mainly on conventional handling equipment. Major operations are managed by local port authorities and regional logistics companies, with no presence of global terminal operators. The facility supports general cargo, refrigerated goods, and containerized freight for Adriatic and Eastern Mediterranean routes.

Port Services

• Container handling: Facilities for loading, unloading, and storage of containers, including specialized equipment for heavy and oversized cargo.
• Cargo operations: Handling of general, bulk, and project cargo, including roll-on/roll-off traffic and exceptional loads.
• Ship services: Berthing, pilotage, mooring, bunkering, and waste collection for various vessel types.
• Warehousing: Storage solutions for containers and general cargo, including covered and open storage areas.
• Customs: On-site customs clearance and inspection services for import and export cargo.

Global Connectivity

Bari, Italy is a major Adriatic port connecting Southern Italy to the Balkans, Greece, Albania, and Croatia via regular ferry and ro-ro services. It serves the Puglia region and acts as a key logistics hub for both passenger and freight traffic. Bari links to ports such as Durres, Igoumenitsa, Patras, and Dubrovnik, and is integrated with rail and road networks, supporting shipping routes to Mediterranean and Black Sea markets.

Port Statistics

Port of Bari, Italy – Key Statistics

• TEU throughput: 81,500 TEU (2019)
• World ranking: Not in top 100 globally; not among Italy’s top five container ports
• Number of berths: Multiple commercial, ferry, and cruise berths; Outer Harbour has 2,360 m of quays, Darsena di Levante 983 m, plus dedicated ferry and cruise terminals
• Port area: Accommodates vessels up to 330 m length, draft up to 12 m
• Shipping lines: Regular feeder connections to Gioia Tauro and Piraeus; services to Greece, Albania, Croatia, and Macedonia