Ravenna’s port operator Sapir Group revamped its ethics code on May 21, following months of coordinated action by dock workers and watchdog organizations to block over 1,000 tons of Israel-bound military supplies across Italian ports.
With the new guidelines, the operator of one of most critical logistical hubs on the Adriatic Sea formally commits to promoting peace and human rights throughout its operations. The dock workers’ Autonomous Port Committee (CAP) noted that while the move is largely symbolic, it represents an important step toward “a safe port that follows the will of its workers.”
The friction in Ravenna began in March 2025, when the port workers understood that intermediaries without proper licenses tried to traffic 14 tons of cannon parts to an Israeli army supplier. After a similar incident in September 2025, local authorities urged the terminal operator to explore all possible actions to halt weapons shipments to countries engaged in war or systemic human rights abuses.
