After the Second World War , a programme of reconstruction and modernisation was  begun in the harbour , where so many moles and quays had been  distroyed by the bombing . In particular , this period saw the foundation of the Ente Autonomo del Porto , now the Port Authority  of Palermo.Thus was born a modern and efficient port, one of the most important in Italy , with a range of excellent features including  deep water,safe moorings,storage for transit goods,warehousing,modern cargo handling equipment , container terminals , Passenger Maritime Station a tanker cleaning , gas freeing , sludge and ballast water treatment plant,a bunkering station,and terminals for dry bulks and cereals.