The port of Messina mainly fulfills the function of connecting Sicily-Italy through ferries for people, goods, heavy veihicles in Strait of Messina, in cruising, in lo / lo traffic and Motorways of the Sea. There are also shipbuilding realities of national importance, which exploit the two existing and active dry docks. The port also has a multipurpose commercial terminal (Nuremberg pier) capable of satisfying ro/ro and lo/lo traffic.
To the north of the historic port, however, in the locality of Rada San Francesco, there is the landing place dedicated to the ferry of passengers and cars on the connection with the port of Villa San Giovanni.