Port of Gioia Tauro

[2] The port benefits from the natural depth of its water (up to 18 meters) and offers one of the longest linear quays available in the Mediterranean (3.4 km).

[3] The port district has a total area of 4,400,000 square meters (440 ha) and it is located in a median position along the coast of the gulf of Gioia Tauro.

The coastal area of the Piana di Gioia Tauro, traditionally cultivated with citrus fruit and olive groves, was identified as the appropriate site for the steel plant.

[citation needed] Despite substantial public and private investments, the Port of Gioia Tauro has long struggled to meet the expectations of its stakeholders, for a number of reasons, going from the lack of political commitment for the development of an adequate inland connectivity, capable of expanding the scope of the port catchment area, to the fierce market competition from emerging countries, as well as the persisting crisis of the transhipment, exacerbated by the higher cost of labour in Italy and the heavier anchor taxes, hindering the competitiveness of the Italian hub versus most of its direct competitors in the Mediterranean.

Therefore, the "International Ship and Port Facility Security Code" (ISPS), has been implemented to prevent acts of terrorism and to address any kind of emergency situation.

It is an organizational branch of the Port Authority, carrying out security services including document checking; monitoring ships, luggage, vehicles; and area surveillance.

On January 30, 2015 the port of Gioia Tauro welcomes the MSC London: with its 16,650 TEUs, it is the largest container carrier to have ever berthed in Italy.

Despite the commitment of the terminal operator, supporting the efforts of the police and prosecution trying to eradicate the presence of 'Ndrangheta affiliates among port employees, and the increased public awareness and attention, which caused a large part of the illicit traffics to be re-routed towards alternative destinations, the port is still subject to periodic seizures of large quantities of drugs, which prove the persistence of illicit interests.

[11] Since 2003, following the events of September 11, 2001, the port is also part of the "Megaport" network, having joined the United States Container Security Initiative, consisting in a set of special procedures and controls, performed directly by US personnel, operating within the ports in collaboration with the local customs offices, to guarantee the highest possible safety standards for cargo inspection and tracking.

“It effectively eliminated legitimate competition from companies not influenced or controlled by the mafia in providing goods and services, performing construction work and hiring personnel.