The official announcement was made in a press conference by the architect Renzo Piano, together with the President of the Western Ligurian Sea Port Authority Paolo Emilio Signorini, the Mayor of Genoa Marco Bucci, the President of the Liguria Region Giovanni Toti and the Admiral of the Port Nicola Carlone, during the presentation of the construction works underway on the new canal which by April 2020 will replace the site formerly occupied by Palazzo della Nira.
The former Control Tower, which collapsed in 7 May 2013 following a collision on the part of the cargo ship Jolly Nero causing the tragic death of 9 people, will be replaced by a new transparent 60-metre high tower installed with solar panels. "This Control Tower is a way to respond to a tragedy. Tragedies must always be treated with great respect," declared Renzo Piano who in 2015 donated the project to Genoa. "Various sites have been proposed, but this option proved to be the safest and the best. I trust that the construction works will commence soon and they should coincide with the overall redevelopment works of the Darsena. At the top, the vertical tower will be surmounted by the control room fitted with a type of "visor", to help look into the distance."
