Description

(extract from the Portolano del Golfo di Trieste, P. Tassinari) The growth of the Port of Trieste in the early nineteenth century, together with the transition from sail to power led to the rise of a new shipbuilding industry on a modern basis in the city at the expense of the small boatyards along the Istrian coast. In 1850, over 90% of the imperial fleet was built in the yards of the provinces: while the Panfili shipyard in Trieste reached its maximum productivity, in quick succession the Fonderia Strudthoff (later Stabilimento Tecnico Triestino), the San Marco shipyard, the Lloyd Arsenale and, finally, the San Rocco shipyard were founded. Towards the end of the century, the situation changed with the spread of iron ships in which British production dominated. It was only a direct intervention of the government in 1908 which made possible the birth of the Navale Trieste shipyard, intended to share the production of iron commercial shipping with the San Rocco shipyard. The new site was built in the area of Panzano, a malarial swamp reclaimed by the installation of new excavated structures and an access channel; the area had been chosen in part for the opportunity to use a freshwater basin with low corrosiveness into which the Isonzo irrigation canals flowed. The British technical experts and skilled workers employed at the beginning were gradually replaced by local staff, which led to the yard assuming an important local role. The damage by the bombs of the First World War did not prevent the launching of symbolic ships in following years, such as the Vulcania and the Saturnia and the development of the aviation section with the famous flying boats of the Cant series. Today owned by Fincantieri, the shipyards build luxury cruise ships specially designed for tropical seas, and now these too have entered the local Monfalconese landscape.