Porto di Mazara del Vallo

The port of Mazara del Vallo constitutes the only port-channel in Sicily. It is divided into 3 basins: foreport, fishing dock (or new port) and canal port. The history of the canal port has ancient origins; carved out at the mouth of the Mazaro River, it has always been an important reference point for maritime traffic within the Mediterranean.

In 600 B.C. the Greeks also used it as a commercial Emporium; the Romans continued to consider it a landmark for their maritime trade but it was with the Arabs that the port of Mazara del Vallo began to be counted among the island’s main ports.

The 1800s and 1900s then saw the emergence of the large fishing fleet, currently consisting of more than 4300 vessels. In fact, the port is the main base of deep-sea fishing vessels in the entire Mediterranean, with an annual production of about 200000 quintals of fish.

The commercial port is protected to the east by an antemural seawall and the Levante pier; to the west, protection comes from the new Ponente pier. In order to gain access to the commercial port basin, it is necessary to make prior contact with the maritime authority.

To enter, one must keep to the centerline of the port mouth, which is easily identified as it is marked by 3 lights: one with red flashes placed on the head of the new West Pier, one with green flashes on the head of the curved antemural seawall, and the one with a fixed red light, signaling the southern edge of the South Pier.

The depth of the seabed is extremely variable. In the forebay the depth is about 6 to 7 meters; in the new port it is around 5 meters, while in the channel port it is 2 to 3 meters.

The port of Mazara del Vallo serves many important functions. First and foremost, it is an industrial port of call since it boasts the presence of a large number of shipyards; especially, they are involved in the construction of medium-ton hulls and offer any type of repair for hulls and engines by the numerous machine shops.

The port then serves the function of oil supply, thanks to the existence of a coastal fuel depot.

Commercial movement occurs at the Mokarta docks, where cruise ships in transit dock, and Roger II, the latter equipped with 4 silos for bulk cement storage.

Passenger services, on the other hand, take place at the Ammiraglio Francese dock , located in the New Port Basin, and Giovan Battista Quinci dock, located on the eastern side of the port exit.

For smaller boats, water refueling is possible along the docks at Pier C.te Caito. The docks are also equipped with power outlets and telephone booths.

For pleasure boats, there is no slipway. There is no fuel station within the ports, but there are a few nearby.

Near the port of Mazara del Vallo there are two small marinas: the ADINA tourist landing placerun by the Mazara Nautical Mariners Association and the small marina of S. Vito. The latter is located 0.7 NM east of the commercial port and consists of a 90-meter-long breakwater and a sub-billow reef. As a result of the harbormaster’s injunction to vacate it, St. Vito’s Marina is currently disused.