La Spezia port shipping is container shipping first: the port handled 1,217,461 TEU in 2025 through two terminals, LSCT and Terminal del Golfo, and moved 34.4% of LSCT's gateway containers by rail. It sits on the Ligurian coast between Genoa and Livorno and ranks among Italy's leading rail ports. This guide covers what is specific to La Spezia: terminals, rail and the inland port, the works under way, dangerous goods, customs in short and how we ship your cargo there from Dubai. We ship both from Dubai to La Spezia and from La Spezia to Dubai.
La Spezia port guide: key facts at a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Port authority | Port System Authority of the Eastern Ligurian Sea (AdSP Mar Ligure Orientale), covering La Spezia and Marina di Carrara |
| UN/LOCODE | ITSPE |
| Customs authority | Italian Customs and Monopolies Agency (ADM), under EU customs law |
| Containers handled, 2025 | 1,217,461 TEU at LSCT and Terminal del Golfo, down 1.7% |
| Total cargo, 2025 | 12.62 million tonnes, up 3.3% (5.64 million import, 6.98 million export) |
| Rail share, 2025 | 34.4% at LSCT, net of transshipment, on 7,352 trains |
| Container terminals | La Spezia Container Terminal (LSCT, Contship group) and Terminal del Golfo (TdG, Tarros group) |
| Harbour | About 1,500 ha roadstead behind a breakwater of about 2.2 km, 5.1 km of quays |
| Rail inside the port | About 17 km of track |
| Maximum draught, container berths | About 14 m to 14.5 m, depending on the source; dredging to 15 m under way |
| Inland port | Santo Stefano Magra, next to the A12 and A15 motorways |
| Import VAT in Italy | 22% standard, 10% and 5% reduced |
| La Spezia to Dubai | Shipper or its Italian customs agent files the export declaration in AES; arrival at Jebel Ali, Khalifa Port or Sharjah, 5% UAE duty on CIF for most goods plus 5% VAT |
Where is La Spezia port and why do shippers use it?
The commercial port is at the northern end of the Gulf of La Spezia, in Liguria. A breakwater of about 2.2 km shelters a roadstead of about 1,500 ha. The port authority, set up in 2016, runs La Spezia together with the smaller port of Marina di Carrara. In 2025 the two ports handled more than 1.3 million TEU and 17.45 million tonnes, which the authority says makes the Eastern Ligurian Sea Italy's second hub for gateway container traffic.
Gateway is the key word. Most boxes at La Spezia are imports and exports for Italian businesses, not transshipment. That shapes the port: short yard stays, a lot of rail, and services that connect Northern Italy with Asia, the Indian subcontinent and the Mediterranean. Port data from Cogoport shows the main import lanes from China and India, and exports mainly to India and Japan.
For a shipper in the UAE, La Spezia makes sense when your buyer is in Northern or Central Italy, especially the Po Valley, Emilia-Romagna or Tuscany, and the carrier you want calls there. If your buyer sits close to Genoa or you need Genoa's wider range of breakbulk terminals, compare Genoa first.
Which terminals handle cargo at La Spezia port?
Two terminals handle containers. Your carrier's service decides which one your box uses.
| Terminal | Operator | What it handles | Key facts |
|---|---|---|---|
| La Spezia Container Terminal (LSCT) | Contship Italia group | Deep-sea and feeder containers, reefers, rail | Over 260,000 sq m next to the Ravano quay, about 1.5 km of berths with drafts up to 14 m, concession renewed in 2014 for 45 years |
| Terminal del Golfo (TdG) | Tarros group | Containers (lo-lo) and ro-ro | About 100,000 sq m, five ro-ro berths and two lo-lo berths, a 40-year concession signed in 2015 |
Other quays serve general cargo and bulk. Calata Paita is about 550 m long with three berths, one for ro-ro, and has grain, cement and vegetable oil silos. Calata Malaspina is used for ro-ro, and Molo Garibaldi is the cruise pier. The Panigaglia LNG terminal, run by GNL Italia of the Snam group, sits on the western side of the gulf. Cranes in the port lift up to 100 t.
Changes at the terminals in 2026
Three things are moving at once, so check details on each booking:
- Deeper water. Dredging of the third basin and the navigation channel to 15 m started on 2 November 2026 and is planned to finish on 2 May 2027. It is the first step toward extending LSCT's Ravano quay for the largest container ships.
- New cranes. In August 2026 LSCT signed contracts worth 90 million euros for four ship-to-shore cranes and 18 yard vehicles for the new Ravano Terminal.
- New owner at TdG. In October 2026 Contship signed an agreement to buy the Tarros group, owner of Terminal del Golfo. Closing was expected in the fourth quarter of 2026.
Dredging works near the berths can affect berth windows. If your cargo is time-critical, ask for the expected berthing date, not only the ETA.
Port of La Spezia traffic: what moves through it?
| Segment | 2025 result | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Containers, La Spezia | 1,217,461 TEU, down 1.7% | Large gateway volume for a port of its size |
| Total cargo, La Spezia | 12.62 million tonnes, up 3.3% | Imports up 13.9%, exports down 4% |
| Cargo by rail | 3,143,987 tonnes on 7,352 trains | Rail is a normal option, not a special request |
| Liquid bulk landed | 1.519 million tonnes, of which 1.328 million tonnes LNG | Energy cargo at dedicated terminals |
| Cruise passengers landed at La Spezia | 736,000, up 16.8% | Cruise days are busy around Molo Garibaldi |
| Marina di Carrara | 4.83 million tonnes, 106,054 TEU | Sister port for ro-ro, bulk and general cargo |
In the first half of 2026 La Spezia handled 6.24 million tonnes, up 2.0%, with transshipment up 65.5% in the second quarter while import and export boxes fell.
Rail and the Santo Stefano Magra inland port
Rail is the reason many Italian importers choose La Spezia. In 2025 LSCT moved 34.4% of its containers by train, net of transshipment, on 7,352 trains carrying 3,143,987 tonnes. The authority notes that this came in a year when rail's share fell across Italy as a whole. The port itself has about 17 km of track.
Behind the port is the Santo Stefano Magra inland port (retroporto), close to the Santo Stefano Magra rail station and the A12 and A15 motorways. It holds an area for empty containers, and operators have proposed space there for full containers too. For you, this means the empty container you return or collect may be at the inland port rather than on the quay, so check the depot named on the release.
| Your consignee is in | Usual inland leg | Decision rule |
|---|---|---|
| La Spezia, Liguria or northern Tuscany | Truck from the terminal | Book the truck before the vessel berths |
| Po Valley, Emilia-Romagna, Lombardy | Rail from LSCT, last mile by truck, or truck via the A15 | Ask for a rail-inclusive price at quote stage |
| Central Italy | Truck or rail | Compare with a call at a port closer to the buyer |
FCL and LCL shipping to La Spezia
Most cargo from the UAE to La Spezia moves in FCL. You book a whole 20ft or 40ft box, it lands at LSCT or TdG, and the buyer's customs broker clears it from there. LCL works too, but the shared box is unpacked at a warehouse first, so your release depends on the consolidator and on every other shipper's papers in that container. Our guide to FCL and LCL costs helps you decide.
Carriers calling La Spezia include MSC, Maersk, CMA CGM, Hapag-Lloyd, COSCO, OOCL, ONE, Evergreen and Yang Ming, according to port data sites. Not all of them link La Spezia directly with Jebel Ali, so the routing may include a transshipment port.
For reefer cargo, give us the set temperature and ventilation at booking. Food and feed are checked by the border control post before release, so health certificates must travel with the documents.
Breakbulk and project cargo at La Spezia
La Spezia is a container port first. Port guides list maximum drafts of about 12 m for ro-ro and 12.9 m for bulk, and cranes up to 100 t. That is enough for steel, machinery and medium project pieces, but large heavy-lift cargo usually goes to a port with dedicated breakbulk terminals.
A simple rule we use:
- If the piece fits a 40ft flat rack or open top by size and weight, ship it on a container service into LSCT. You get more sailings and the rail option inland.
- If it needs conventional breakbulk tonnage, check whether the carrier calls La Spezia's general cargo quays or whether Genoa or Marina di Carrara fits better.
- For any out-of-gauge piece, confirm the terminal's lifting limit and the road route from the port before booking.
Our break bulk and project cargo team collects drawings, weights and lifting points before we ask a carrier for acceptance. Our guide to flat rack, open top and breakbulk options compares the equipment.
Dangerous goods at La Spezia port
La Spezia accepts IMDG dangerous goods at its container terminals, under the IMDG Code and the port's own safety rules. Each terminal also has its own acceptance rules for certain classes. Because these rules change, we confirm acceptance with the carrier and the terminal for every DG booking.
What you need to provide for any DG shipment to La Spezia:
- UN number, proper shipping name, class and packing group.
- A Safety Data Sheet for each product.
- A Dangerous Goods Declaration signed by a trained person.
- UN-approved packaging, labels and placards.
- Any Italian or EU permit the product needs, for example under REACH for chemicals.
Plan for a quick pick-up. DG boxes left in a busy terminal attract attention and storage costs fast. Our dangerous goods shipping team checks paperwork and carrier acceptance before you commit to a sailing.
Customs at La Spezia: a short summary
Italian customs rules are the same at every port, so here is the short version. Our Genoa guide covers the Italian process in more detail.
- The carrier files the EU entry summary declaration at least 24 hours before your container is loaded at Jebel Ali.
- On arrival the goods sit in temporary storage under customs control, for no more than 90 days.
- The importer, with an EORI number, or its customs broker lodges the import declaration with ADM, with the invoice, packing list, bill of lading and certificate of origin.
- ADM selects checks by risk. Food and feed also go through the border control post.
- Duty and import VAT are paid and the container is released.
Duty comes from the EU tariff for your goods code. There is no EU-UAE trade agreement in force (talks were launched on 28 May 2025), so UAE-origin goods pay the normal third-country rate. Italy's import VAT is 22%, with reduced rates of 10% and 5% for some goods. From 1 January 2026, an importer bringing more than 50 tonnes a year of steel, aluminium, cement, fertilisers or hydrogen into the EU must be an authorised CBAM declarant.
In most cases the Italian buyer is the importer of record and appoints the customs broker. We prepare the export side in the UAE and send the broker a complete document set before the ship arrives.
How to ship from Dubai to La Spezia port: step by step
This is how we handle a typical shipment from the UAE to La Spezia. We book space, prepare documents and handle UAE clearance and trucking. In Italy we work with your buyer's customs broker or a clearing agent they appoint.
- Send us the cargo details. Commodity, HS code, weight, volume or dimensions, pickup point and the Incoterm agreed with your buyer.
- Confirm the buyer's set-up. Importer of record, EORI number and the customs broker in La Spezia.
- Choose the service. We check which carriers can deliver to La Spezia, whether the box lands at LSCT or TdG, and whether the routing includes transshipment.
- Book space. For DG, reefer or out-of-gauge cargo we get carrier and terminal acceptance first.
- Pick up and stuff. We arrange the empty, stuffing, seal and VGM, and IMDG packing for DG.
- Clear UAE export. We file the export or re-export declaration with Dubai Customs and gate the container in at Jebel Ali port before the cut-off.
- Send documents early. Bill of lading, invoice, packing list, certificate of origin and any health or DG papers go to the buyer and its broker before arrival.
- Release and delivery. The broker clears the goods with ADM, the line releases the box, and it leaves La Spezia by truck or train.
[AMIR-FACT: the carriers or services we actually book from Jebel Ali to La Spezia, whether they call LSCT or Terminal del Golfo, any transshipment port, and our typical port-to-port days]
How to ship from La Spezia to Dubai
We also handle the other direction: shipping from La Spezia to Dubai, with arrival at Jebel Ali, Khalifa Port or Sharjah port. We book the space with the carrier and run the UAE side. The Italian export filing stays with the shipper or its Italian customs agent.
The Italy export side
- Export declaration. Under EU rules, the exporter lodges an electronic export declaration through the Automated Export System (AES) at the customs office where it is established. In Italy that office belongs to ADM, and the shipper files itself or through a customs representative.
- Office of exit. When the cargo leaves from La Spezia, the customs office at the port acts as the office of exit. It can examine the goods against the declaration and confirms their departure to the office of export.
- Oral declarations are allowed only in limited cases and never for goods under export prohibitions or restrictions, so controlled goods always need the electronic filing.
The UAE import side
On arrival, the declaration goes to Dubai Customs with the commercial invoice, the packing list, the certificate of origin and any permit from the authority that controls restricted goods. The carrier then releases the cargo against the bill of lading with a delivery order. Customs duty in Dubai is 5% of the CIF value for most goods, with 50% on alcohol and 100% on cigarettes. Import VAT is 5%, charged on the customs value including freight, insurance and customs fees. A VAT-registered importer that meets the Federal Tax Authority conditions accounts for it on its VAT return instead of paying at the border.
- Send us the shipper's details in La Spezia, the cargo, the HS code and the UAE delivery address.
- We book space from La Spezia to Jebel Ali, Khalifa Port or Sharjah and send the booking and cut-offs to the shipper.
- The shipper or its trucker delivers the container to LSCT or Terminal del Golfo, or to the Santo Stefano Magra inland port for rail, before the cut-off.
- The shipper or its Italian agent files the export declaration in AES before the cut-off.
- We check the draft bill of lading against the invoice and packing list before it is issued.
- We file the UAE declaration before the vessel arrives, so clearance can start when it berths.
- We arrange payment of the duty and VAT and collect the delivery order from the carrier.
- We truck the cargo to your site and return the empty container inside the free time.
[AMIR-FACT: the carriers we actually use from La Spezia to Jebel Ali, Khalifa Port or Sharjah, which terminal they load at, any transshipment port, and our real port-to-port transit days in this direction]
Checklist for La Spezia port shipping
- HS code confirmed and duty checked in the EU tariff.
- Buyer's EORI number and customs broker named before sailing.
- Invoice, packing list and bill of lading show the same weights, piece counts and consignee.
- Certificate of origin issued in the UAE.
- Arrival terminal (LSCT or TdG) confirmed on the booking.
- Rail or truck chosen for the inland leg, and the empty return depot known.
- For food: health certificates ready for the border control post.
- For DG: SDS, DG declaration, packaging and carrier and terminal acceptance.
- For steel and aluminium: buyer's CBAM declarant status checked.
- Wood packaging treated and marked to ISPM 15.
- Free time on the container agreed with the line.
Common mistakes when shipping to La Spezia
- Assuming every carrier calls La Spezia direct. Some services only reach it after transshipment, which adds days.
- Pricing to the quay when the buyer is in Milan or Bologna. A rail-inclusive price can be cheaper than port-to-port plus a long truck leg.
- Returning the empty to the wrong depot. Check whether the line wants it at the port or at Santo Stefano Magra.
- Late documents for food. The border control post cannot start checks without them, and the box waits.
- Ignoring free time. Every day after free time adds demurrage or detention. Our article on demurrage and detention shows how the charges build up.
La Spezia or Genoa: which Ligurian port fits your cargo?
| Your situation | Port to use | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Containers for the Po Valley or Emilia-Romagna, rail preferred | La Spezia | 34.4% rail share at LSCT and the A15 toward Parma |
| Buyer in Tuscany or around La Spezia | La Spezia | Short truck leg |
| Buyer near Genoa or in Piedmont | Genoa | Shorter inland leg |
| Heavy-lift or large breakbulk | Genoa or Marina di Carrara | Dedicated breakbulk and project berths |
| Not sure | Both | We price both and compare the cost to the door |
Frequently asked questions
Who runs La Spezia port?
The Port System Authority of the Eastern Ligurian Sea manages La Spezia and Marina di Carrara. The container terminals are private: LSCT, part of the Contship group, and Terminal del Golfo, owned by the Tarros group.
What is the port code for La Spezia?
The UN/LOCODE for La Spezia is ITSPE. It appears on bookings, bills of lading and tracking tools.
How many containers does La Spezia handle?
La Spezia handled 1,217,461 TEU in 2025 across LSCT and Terminal del Golfo, 1.7% less than in 2024. Together with Marina di Carrara, the system passed 1.3 million TEU.
How much cargo leaves La Spezia by rail?
In 2025, 34.4% of LSCT's containers moved by rail, net of transshipment. That meant 7,352 trains carrying 3,143,987 tonnes of cargo.
How deep is La Spezia port?
Container berths take drafts of about 14 m to 14.5 m. Dredging of the third basin and the channel to 15 m started in November 2026 and is planned to finish in May 2027.
Can I ship dangerous goods to La Spezia?
Yes. La Spezia's container terminals accept IMDG dangerous goods, subject to the port's safety rules and each terminal's class rules, so acceptance must be confirmed before booking.
What is the import VAT for goods arriving at La Spezia?
Italy's standard VAT rate is 22%, with reduced rates of 10% and 5% for some goods. It is charged at import on top of customs duty.
Is La Spezia good for project cargo?
For pieces that fit flat racks or open tops, yes, through LSCT. For heavy-lift and large breakbulk, Genoa or Marina di Carrara is often the better fit.
How do I ship from Dubai to La Spezia?
Send us the cargo, HS code and the importer's EORI details. We book a service that calls LSCT or Terminal del Golfo, handle UAE trucking, export clearance and the bill of lading, and the importer or its customs broker lodges the import declaration with ADM.
How do I ship from La Spezia to Dubai?
The shipper or its Italian customs agent lodges the export declaration in AES and delivers the box before the cut-off. We book the space, file the Dubai Customs declaration before arrival, arrange payment of the 5% duty and 5% VAT, and deliver to your site.
Get a quote for La Spezia port shipping
Send us your cargo details and we will come back with a routing and a price from the UAE to La Spezia. Use our freight rate inquiry form, or contact our team to talk through a DG, reefer or project shipment first. You can also read about our Dubai freight forwarding team.
Sources
- AdSP Mar Ligure Orientale press release, 9 March 2026: 2025 traffic (via Assoporti)
- Wikipedia (Italian): Porto della Spezia (terminals, quays, rail track, inland port)
- Wikipedia: Port of La Spezia (location, breakwater, quays)
- Ports Europe: Dredging starts at Port of La Spezia (November 2026)
- Ports Europe: LSCT crane order for Ravano Terminal (August 2026)
- Ports Europe: Contship deal to buy Tarros (October 2026)
- Ports Europe: La Spezia H1 2026 cargo (August 2026)
- Findaport: Port of La Spezia (maximum drafts by cargo type)
- Cogoport: La Spezia (ITSPE) port data (lines, lanes)
- Linescape: La Spezia port calls by carrier
- Terminal49: La Spezia terminals
- European Commission Access2Markets: Customs clearance documents and procedures (ENS timing, temporary storage, EORI)
- Your Europe: VAT rates in EU countries (Italy)
- European Commission: EU-UAE agreement negotiations
- European Commission: CBAM definitive regime
- European Commission: What is exportation (export declaration in AES, office of export and office of exit)
- Dubai Customs: Submit customs declaration (invoice, packing list, certificate of origin, permits)
- Dubai Customs: FAQ (5% of CIF value, alcohol and cigarettes)
- UAE Government portal: Clearing customs and paying customs duty (5% of CIF in Dubai)
- Federal Tax Authority: VAT guide, section 3.5 on import VAT (5%, customs value, registered importers)
Reviewed: 10 November 2026