A tight link intertwines the history of Ente Bacini to that of the Port of Genoa, one of the major ports in Italy and the Mediterranean Sea.
Ente Bacini tradition, dating back to the end of the 19th century, is constantly renewed, updated and aiming to future requirements. Our proven expertise is our best guarantee.
OUR HISTORY
DRY DOCKS IN GENOA – A CENTENNIAL HISTORY
On January 20, 1888, Conrad Zschokke, a Swiss engineer and entrepeneur secured a contract with the Italian Ministry of Public Works to build two dry-docks inside the Grazie area of Genoa’s port.
On December 28, 1889 Conrad Zschokke set up Società Esercizio Bacini company with Erasmo Piaggio, a shipowner in the board of directors of Banca di Genova and Navigazione Generale Italiana. Società Esercizio Bacini, after getting built Dock No. 2, began operating in 1892 and got on in 1893 after Dock No. 1 was built.
Docks Nos.1 and 2, still in operation, could accomodate ships up to 130 and 170 metres long and were a major upgrade to Genoa Port dockyard facilities.
Società Esercizio Bacini, wishing to meet their clients’ growing needs, merged their dry dock and machine shop activities establishing Riva Trigoso shipyard, built in 1897 and starting in 1898.
On February 19, 1925 following the separation of dry dock and machine shop activities, Società Ente Bacini was established, a holding company including Società Esercizio Bacini, Ansaldo Company and twenty three Genoa shipowning companies.
In 1928 Dock No.3 was built by digging out the land between Docks N. 1 and N. 2. In 1931 Dock N. 3 was widened more than twenty metres to accomodate the Rex, the largest Italian ocean liner.
In order to meet growing requests, a fourth dock, Dock No. 4, was commissioned in 1937. When completed, Dock N. 4 attracted to Genoa foreign ships and enhanced workshop activities in the Port of Genoa.
Over the years, larger and larger ships needing to be accomodated a fifth dock, Dock N.5, was built and put into operation in 1962.
In 2007 Docks Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, previously audited as to their artistic, historical and archeological value, were listed as Italian Cultural Heritage Assets, protected under Legislative Decree No. 42/2004 at the behest of Ministero per i Beni e le Attività Culturali.
HISTORICAL PHOTOS
