Shipping giant MSC is working on taking over the industrial area near the port of Trieste formerly occupied by Wärtsilä, a Finnish maritime equipment manufacturer. MSC is planning on reconverting the factory into a rail rolling stock production facility, intending to churn out 1,000 wagons per year.

MSC recently held a meeting with various Italian ministries and the other players involved. The company said it should be possible to put the factory into full regime within 36 months and is also planning to absorb all the Wärtsilä’s workforce, which amounts to roughly 300 employees. The idea of taking over the Wärtsilä plant was brought forwards by MSC’s Executive Chairman Gianluigi Aponte at the end of February. Further developments are expected next week when there will be a meeting at the Italian Parliament.

The company already has a strong presence in the port of Trieste, where rail freight plays a significant role. Other than the plans for the Wärtsilä plant, MSC expanded in presence in the Trieste Marine Terminal, which handles around 7,000 trains every year. In February 2022, the company became the major shareholder of the terminal via Terminal Investment Ltd, MSC’s subsidiary for container terminals.

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