Porti & ambiente — le notizie raccolte

L’ultima sentenza del Tar per la Sardegna ripropone la questione dell’ex polo petrolchimico del Nord Sardegna, un capitolo significativo della storia industriale di Porto Torres, segnato da dismissioni e dalla necessità di bonifiche ambientali, piani complessi che procedono a rilento, in un territorio che punta alla riconversione sostenibile. Nel provvedimento del 30 aprile il giudice del Tribunale amministrativo regionale ha respinto il ricorso presentato da Eni Rewind contro la Città Metropolitana di Sassari perché non si era espressa sulla istanza inoltrata dalla multinazionale che, nell’opera di risanamento dei terreni e delle falde, chiedeva di non riconoscere il rifiuto scavato nella discarica di Minciaredda, e in alternativa di considerarlo come materia prima riutilizzabile, così da evitare lo smaltimento nel sito di raccolta. Un’istanza di riesame delle prescrizioni dell’Aia per una modifica sulla gestione e sui criteri di classificazione dei materiali inquinanti, stabiliti dal protocollo adottato dal Ministero dell’Ambiente. Una richiesta presentata dalla società dell’Eni nell’ottobre 2025 e dichiarata con sentenza del Tar in parte inammissibile, mentre in parte deve essere dichiarata cessata la materia del contendere, in quanto non sarebbe di competenza della Città Metropolitana che «non può apporre alcun cambiamento al protocollo del Ministero», pertanto il comportamento inerte della ex Provincia di Sassari sarebbe legittimo. La piattaforma polifunzionale realizzata da Eni Rewiind nel sito di interesse nazionale, all’interno dello stabilimento industriale di Porto Torres, conserva la precisa funzione al trattamento dei rifiuti, non pericolosi e pericolosi e terreni provenienti dalle aree tra le più inquinate - Minciaredda e area Peci e palte fosfatiche- oggetto di risanamento nell’ambito del complesso Progetto Nuraghe. Ora la decisione si potrebbe spostare al Ministero dell’ambiente, al quale la società ricorrente dovrà domandare la modifica, che se accolta dovrà essere recepita dalla Città Metropolitana. © Riproduzione riservata

This year’s program, which begins weeks ahead of the exhibition itself, reflects the particularly challenging environment facing the shipping sector, which is required to operate in one of the most complex conditions of recent decades—where war, sanctions, tariffs, insurance costs, shifting trade routes and regulatory pressures are reshaping both risks and opportunities. “Posidonia has always been more than an exhibition. It is a platform where the industry comes together to address real challenges and shape its future direction,” said Theodoros Vokos, CEO of Posidonia Exhibitions S.A. “This year’s conference program reflects the urgency of the issues facing shipping today, particularly regarding the impact of geopolitical developments, the energy transition and technological change. The discussions taking place—even before the official opening of the exhibition—underline how essential collaboration and dialogue are for the industry.” On May 20, the Conference of Naftemporiki will further highlight the geopolitical dimension of shipping, examining how the global balance of power, energy security and climate policy are reshaping the maritime industry. This year’s theme reflects this volatility, focusing on the geopolitics of the seas, Greece’s role as an energy hub, the challenges of decarbonization, and developments across ports, shipyards and key market segments. “We are living in an era in which shipping is not merely influenced by developments, but is at the very centre of them,” said Giorgios Melissanidis, Publisher of Naftemporiki. “Shifting geopolitical balances and the accelerating energy transition are shaping a new, more demanding environment,” he added. Για να εμφανίζονται περισσότερα άρθρα τηςΝαυτεμπορικήςστις αναζητήσεις σας εύκολα και γρήγορα, πρέπει να προσθέσετε το site στις προτιμώμενες πηγές σας. Μπορείτε να το κάνετε πηγαίνονταςεδώ.

Ryanair’s greenhouse gas emissions have increased again against a trend of reductions from most of Ireland’s other largest emitters. The airline company’s carbon emissions grew to 12.3 million tonnes (mt) in 2025, a 2 per cent increase on 2024. It now emits two-thirds more carbon than it did 10 years ago. Its passenger numbers doubled in the same period, so emissions per passenger have fallen, but that still leaves the airline with its overall emissions moving in the wrong direction. The figures come from the latest report of the EU’s Emissions Trading System (ETS), which monitors thelargest carbon polluterswith an incentive and penalty scheme. [Ireland’s largest carbon polluters reduced emissions in 2025 - apart from two sectorsOpens in new window] The scheme allocates free carbon allowances each year, allowing them to sell what they do not use but requiring them to buy allowances to make up for emissions in excess of their allocation. Ryanair received 2.1mt worth of allowances last year, so it exceeded its allocation multiple times. The airline did not respond to a request for comment but its director of sustainability, Steven Fitzgerald, told a recent podcast the company would spend €1.4 to €1.5 billion next year to comply with the ETS and a separate EU scheme requiring airlines to begin incorporating lower-carbon sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) into their jet fuel. Ryanair’s chief executive,Michael O’Leary, was quoted in this weekend’s Sunday Independent as describing the ETS as “stupid” and “mad”. He has repeatedly criticised it as unfair, as only flights within Europe are subject to it. International flights come under a separate, voluntary, less onerous arrangement, although the EU is discussing extending the ETS to some international flights. Ryanair has said it will continue to pursue reductions in per-passenger carbon intensity by using more modern aircraft, retrofitting existing craft and implementing more efficient fuel-use practices. But Fitzgerald agreed, in the SimpliFlying podcast appearance, that the airline’s growth curve would be faster than its emissions intensity reductions for the foreseeable future. [Ireland has second highest emissions per head in EU and must do more to reach net zero by 2050Opens in new window] “What Ryanair has gone through over the last few years is double-digit growth on an annual basis, and you’re not going to see the same declines in terms of emission intensity,” he said. Carbon pollution from aviation is growing worldwide. Emissions fromAer Lingusflights within Europe rose by 2.4 per cent to 0.77mt last year. The ETS figures show Ireland’s second largest emitter,ESB, had emissions of just over 2.09mt from its electricity generators at North Wall, Ringsend, Poolbeg and Corduff in Dublin; Aghada, Co Cork; Shannonbridge, Co Offaly and Moneypoint, Co Clare. That was a 2 per cent reduction on 2024, mainly because the coal-burning station at Moneypoint ceased operating last June, although it remains on standby as a last-option source of emergency generation. Irish Cement’s emissions rose at its Co Meath plant but fell at its Co Limerick plant, with combined emissions falling 3.7 per cent to just over 1.25mt. Aughinish Aluminain Co Limerick, which refines the raw material for aluminium, fell by just over 1.5 per cent to 1.1mt. For context, Ireland’s overall emissions in 2024, the last year available, were 57.65mt. In total, 117 large industrial, manufacturing, pharmaceutical, food processing and power plants in Ireland reported to the ETS. Their combined emissions fell by 5.5 per cent, below the EU average of 6.9 per cent. Shipping came under the ETS for the first time in 2024 and an ETS2 is planned to cover fossil fuel use for land transport and heating buildings. ETS2 was due to start next year but its introduction, postponed to 2028, is in doubt due to fears it will increase fuel costs to households and small businesses already suffering in the current energy crisis.

Registrata una crescita significativa del 14,7% rispetto allo stesso periodo dell’anno precedente Ningbo – Il porto di Ningbo-Zhoushan apre il 2026 con una performance solida, registrando una crescita a doppia cifra in diversi segmenti chiave del traffico marittimo. Nel primo trimestre, lo scalo cinese ha confermato il proprio ruolo centrale nelle catene logistiche globali, in un contesto caratterizzato da tensioni geopolitiche e ridefinizione dei flussi commerciali. Il throughput complessivo delle merci ha raggiunto 370 milioni di tonnellate, in aumento del 4,1% su base annua, mentre il traffico containerizzato si è attestato a 11,55 milioni di teu, con una crescita significativa del 14,7% rispetto allo stesso periodo dell’anno precedente. Particolarmente rilevante la performance delle rinfuse.

L’accordo con Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding segna un passaggio strategico per il gruppo Shanghai – Orient Overseas Container Line (Oocl) rafforza il proprio piano di rinnovamento della flotta con un ordine per dodici portacontainer da 13.600 teu a doppia alimentazione lng. I contratti di costruzione sono stati firmati nei giorni scorsi. L’accordo con Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding segna un passaggio strategico per il gruppo, che introdurrà per la prima volta nella propria flotta unità capaci di operare con gas naturale liquefatto, affiancando i combustibili tradizionali. Le nuove navi saranno equipaggiate con motori principali dual-fuel, progettati per funzionare sia a lng sia con carburanti convenzionali. La scelta riflette la valutazione della compagnia in merito all’evoluzione delle normative ambientali, alle diverse opzioni di carburanti alternativi e alla disponibilità delle infrastrutture di approvvigionamento.

Image generated by AI Quick Summary The Adriatic Sea is undergoing a profound structural shift as coastal nations prepare for the 2026 tourism season. By prioritizing green infrastructure—specificallycold ironing systemsthat allow ships to plug into the electrical grid while docked—port authorities are aligning with global sustainability goals while simultaneously expanding their capacity to host the next generation of mega-cruise vessels. The full details of these multi-million euro projects will be a central focus of theeighth Adriatic Sea Forum, scheduled for June 25–26, 2026, in Venice. Italy remains the dominant force in Adriatic maritime tourism, with over€252 millionallocated to modernize its eastern coastline. Across the Adriatic’s eastern shore, the Balkan nations—led byCroatia—are investing heavily to capture a larger share of the Mediterranean cruise and sailing market. A unifying trend across both the Italian and Balkan shores is the implementation ofcold ironing technology. This allows cruise ships, ferries, and yachts to switch off their diesel engines and utilize local electrical grids while in port. What is the "Adriatic Sea Forum"?It is a biennial event (the 8th edition being held in June 2026) that gathers major stakeholders in the cruise, ferry, and yachting industries to discuss regional tourism trends and infrastructure. How will these upgrades affect travelers?Passengers can expect more efficient embarkation processes, improved terminal facilities, and a cleaner environment in port cities due to reduced ship emissions. Are these projects only for large cruise ships?No. A significant portion of the investment—particularly in Croatia and Southern Italy—is dedicated to ferry terminals and leisure marinas for yachts and smaller sailing vessels. Disclaimer:Investment figures and project timelines referenced in this report are based on the Adriatic Sea Tourism Report 2026 published by Risposte Turismo as of May 4, 2026. Project completion dates are subject to local construction and regulatory schedules. Co-Founder & Contributor A passionate traveller and tech enthusiast. Kunal contributes to the vision and growth of Nomad Lawyer, bringing fresh perspectives and driving the community forward.

Ferrol acogió este pasado sábado el primer encuentro internacional de Vespas de la ciudad, una cita enmarcada en la celebración del 80 aniversario de la icónicascootercomo referente cultural y económico. La iniciativa, organizada por el Vespa Club Rías Altas con el apoyo de la Concejalía de Turismo del Concello de Ferrol, contó con la participación del Vespa Clube do Porto. Un total de medio centenar de aficionados compartieron una jornada de confraternización marcada por la lluvia, que no impidió el desarrollo del programa previsto. Los participantes recorrieron distintos puntos de la comarca, con paradas destacadas en el castillo de San Felipe y en el mirador natural del Monte de Ancos, en Neda. La comida de hermandad tuvo lugar en el restaurante Casa Becerra, en Narón. El grupo portugués fue recibido inicialmente en Betanzos, desde donde ambos clubes iniciaron un recorrido conjunto por Ferrolterra durante el fin de semana. Uno de los momentos centrales de la jornada fue la formalización del hermanamiento entre ambos clubes, que comparten una misma filosofía basada en la pasión por la Vespa y la convivencia. La experiencia, pese a las inclemencias meteorológicas, se saldó con un ambiente de amistad y colaboración, dejando abierta la puerta a futuros encuentros entre Galicia y Portugal. Ferrol acogió este pasado sábado el primer encuentro internacional de Vespas de la ciudad, una cita enmarcada en la celebración del 80 aniversario de la icónicascootercomo referente cultural y económico. La iniciativa, organizada por el Vespa Club Rías Altas con el apoyo de la Concejalía de Turismo del Concello de Ferrol, contó con la participación del Vespa Clube do Porto. Un total de medio centenar de aficionados compartieron una jornada de confraternización marcada por la lluvia, que no impidió el desarrollo del programa previsto. Los participantes recorrieron distintos puntos de la comarca, con paradas destacadas en el castillo de San Felipe y en el mirador natural del Monte de Ancos, en Neda. La comida de hermandad tuvo lugar en el restaurante Casa Becerra, en Narón. El grupo portugués fue recibido inicialmente en Betanzos, desde donde ambos clubes iniciaron un recorrido conjunto por Ferrolterra durante el fin de semana. Uno de los momentos centrales de la jornada fue la formalización del hermanamiento entre ambos clubes, que comparten una misma filosofía basada en la pasión por la Vespa y la convivencia. La experiencia, pese a las inclemencias meteorológicas, se saldó con un ambiente de amistad y colaboración, dejando abierta la puerta a futuros encuentros entre Galicia y Portugal.

Il sole ha baciato la 28esima edizione della “Festa di primavera” all’oasi di Volta Grimana, confermando l'appuntamento come uno dei più sentiti del territorio. Centinaia di persone si sono ritrovate per celebrare il binomio perfetto tra ambiente ed educazione, in una giornata organizzata magistralmente dal Gruppo iniziativa per l’ambiente. La mattinata ha preso il via con l’immersione totale nel verde: Enrico Vicentini ha guidato una quarantina di visitatori lungo i sentieri dell’oasi, svelandone i segreti naturalistici. A seguire, il relax ha trovato spazio con una sessione di yoga-ki, resa ancora più suggestiva dalle note di un musicista che hanno vibrato tra gli alberi, creando un’atmosfera di rara armonia. Non sono mancati i momenti istituzionali che hanno visto compattarsi il fronte della tutela ambientale. Sono intervenuti il presidente del Parco Moreno Gasparini, con l’amministrazione di Porto Viro, rappresentanti di Wwf, Legambiente Delta del Po e Lipu Rovigo. Il momento più emozionante è stato senza dubbio la liberazione di sei gheppi. I rapaci, curati e riabilitati, sono tornati a solcare il cielo del Delta sotto gli occhi ammirati dei presenti: un gesto che è il simbolo stesso della missione dell'oasi. Il futuro del territorio è passato per il sorriso degli alunni delle scuole primarie di Porto Viro. Accompagnati dalle insegnanti, i piccoli studenti sono stati premiati per il loro impegno nei progetti ambientali. La giornata è poi proseguita tra giochi in legno e laboratori didattici, una mostra fotografica e osservazioni solari a cura degli Astrofili Polesani. Il primo cittadino di Porto Viro Mario Mantovan ha espresso profonda gratitudine: “Grazie ai bambini, al Gruppo iniziativa ambiente e a tutti i volontari che, con passione, custodiscono questa splendida oasi, patrimonio prezioso della nostra comunità”. Tra picnic sull'erba e convivialità, la “Festa di primavera” si è conclusa con successo, riaffermando il proprio ruolo come vero e proprio tratto identitario per Porto Viro e per tutto il Delta, in grado ogni anno di unire le generazioni nel segno del rispetto per la propria terra.

Thermax’s green methanol project, Meghmani’s fertiliser approvals and Dynacons’ RBI order headline corporate action, with Afcons and EMS securing contracts, Envair gaining approval, GRE Renew updating orders, and Asahi India Glass, Standard Surfactants reporting disruptions. Thermax Limited, a leading energy and environment solutions provider, has partnered with Ankur Scientific, a global leader in bioenergy and waste-to-energy solutions, to set up India’s first Green Methanol Production Facility at Deendayal Port Authority (DPA), Kandla, Gujarat. The collaboration brings together Thermax’s expertise in fuel and chemical processing with Ankur Scientific’s advanced biomass gasification technology. India’s shipping industry, which accounts for around 3% of total national emissions, is a major driver of fuel demand and is expected to require 37,000 tonnes of methanol by 2030. With a production capacity of 18,000 tonnes, the facility will address nearly half of this demand, offering a scalable, low-emission alternative that supports self-reliance and reduces import needs. Meghmani Organics Ltd has said that its wholly owned subsidiary, Meghmani Crop Nutrition Ltd, has received approval from the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare for the manufacturing of nano fertiliser products - Nano DAP, Nano NPK and Nano Zinc. The approval reflects the company’s continued focus on supporting Indian agriculture with next-generation crop nutrition solutions. These additions will further strengthen Meghmani’s crop nutrition portfolio and enhance its ability to serve evolving farmer requirements across multiple nutrient categories. Afcons Infrastructure Ltd has secured an order valued at Rs 373 crore for civil infrastructure works, under its Urban Infrastructure and Metro Business Unit (BU). The order involves the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contracts and tunnelling using TBM. Afcons Infrastructure Ltd is the flagship infrastructure engineering and construction company of the Shapoorji Pallonji Group. It has a legacy of over six decades, with a strong track record of executing numerous technologically complex EPC projects both within India and internationally. According to the latest ENR survey, Afcons is ranked in the Top 140 international Contractors globally; 12th in Bridges and 14th in Marine & Ports. Gift Nifty signals a weak start for domestic markets Dynacons Systems & Solutions Ltd has been awarded an order for Supply, Installation, Implementation, Integration, Maintenance and Facilities Management Services for Private Cloud Infrastructure for the Data Centres of Reserve Bank of India. The total order value is Rs. 750.82 Crores (including GST). The Reserve Bank of India is in the process of establishing a new state-of-the-art, energy-efficient, Greenfield Next Generation Data Centre (NGDC) housed with the latest technology at Bhubaneswar, Odisha. In this context, the Bank intends to establish a robust, scalable, and secure Private Cloud to support current and future application and analytics workloads, with provision for integration of AI Cloud capabilities separately. GRE Renew Enertech Ltd has announced the details of orders received by the Company from April 15 to April 30 as part of its regular business update. Asahi India Glass said that on May 31, an exhaust chimney partially failed at its float glass plant in Soniyana, Rajasthan (apparently due to a local whirlwind/squall). The construction of this chimney was carried out in accordance with standard, proven designs and executed by reputed, experienced fabricators. There has been no human injury, and all plant and machinery, including the float glass furnace, and any other key equipment, continue to be functional. We are assessing the extent of damage to the chimney and identifying the root cause of the incident. There is no risk to supplies to our OEM and project Customers. As a responsible corporation, ATS remains committed to determining the root cause of the incident and remains in compliance with all applicable laws. Envair Electrodyne Limited has been granted In-principle-approval by Industrial Promotion & Investment Corporation of Odisha Limited (IPICOL) under the Copper Clad Laminate (CCL) manufacturing project for an investment of Rs. 136.87 crore. EMS Ltd has received the Letter of Award (LOA) for Laying of Sewer Network and House Connection work in 18 Problematic Wards (5 Wards, namely: Durgakund, Nariyan, Sarainandan, Jolha Northan and Bhelupur out of 18 problematic Wards) of Nagar Nigam, Varanasi. The estimated order value (excluding GST) is approximately Rs. 143.80 crore. Standard Surfactants informed the exchanges that a fire broke out on May 3 in the Spray Drier Plant (SPD) at Mandideep, MP unit. It claims no casualties/injuries and said affected operations to resume in 2-3 months after re-installation; other plants are unaffected. Assets are adequately insured, it further said. Published on May 5, 2026 Terms & conditions|Institutional Subscriber

ANCONA Anche l’Ast di Ancona si scaglia contro il molo Clementino. In particolare, i tecnici dell’Azienda sanitaria hanno redatto un lungo documento che inchioda l’Autorità portuale sulle modalità con cui sono stati condotti gli studi preliminari allegati al progetto inviato al Ministero dell’Ambiente per la verifica. A partire dal report sugli impatti sulla salute della popolazione dell’infrastruttura. La precisazione L’Ast ricorda innanzitutto che il banchinamento per le grandi navi al porto antico «deve essere considerato, ai fini della valutazione del rischio sanitario, alla stregua di un’area sorgente strutturata, equiparabile a quella di un insediamento produttivo o di un impianto industriale». Questo in ragione non solo dell’inquinamento prodotto dalle navi in avvicinamento e in sosta - eventualmente mitigato grazie al cold ironing - ma anche per le conseguenze delle movimentazioni logistiche e del traffico indotti dagli approdi. A fronte di una situazione così delicata, però, l’Azienda pone in rilievo come «la valutazione previsionale degli impatti sanitari sulla popolazione interessata (elaborata dall’Authority, ndr) è stata condotta esclusivamente attraverso una ricognizione di carattere documentale». Sui libri, insomma, sfruttando studi superati come il Pia 1 del professor Bonifazi, risalente al 2019, e altre fonti documentali. Nel tempo, però, la situazione non è certo migliorata, anzi. Per questo, l’Ast ha chiesto all’Autorità portuale una serie di approfondimenti, sia in chiave «tossicologica che epidemiologica». Studi sulla qualità e sulla quantità degli inquinanti già presenti in porto e che l’hub crociere potrebbe portare, oltre che sulle condizioni generali di salute della popolazione residente nei dintorni del porto, così da evidenziare situazioni di fragilità e da misurare l’impatto che l’aggravio di inquinanti potrebbe provocare. «Tale integrazione - scrive l’Ast - risulta necessaria per formulare una stima attendibile e scientificamente fondata degli impatti sanitari complessivi associabili alla realizzazione e alla futura operatività dell’infrastruttura». Che «agisce come volano per una serie di attività a forte impatto ambientale». L’Azienda sanitaria chiede poi chiarezza sui tempi di realizzazione non solo del banchinamento, ma anche dell’elettrificazione necessaria a spegnere i motori delle navi in sosta, così da abbattere gli inquinanti. Una soluzione che andrebbe resa operativa da subito. Ma il focus è anche sullo spostamento dei traghetti dalla banchina 8, sotto al Guasco, verso le 19, 20 e 21. La contraddizione Conclude l’Ast: «Si rileva una potenziale contraddizione, visto che gli obiettivi di sanità pubblica impongono una contrazione delle emissioni e la realizzazione dell’opera in esame prefigura un verosimile incremento dei carichi inquinanti connessi alle nuove attività». L’Autorità portuale, comunque, ha già risposto. Secondo l’Authority, il Molo non è assimilabile ad un inceneritore, che anche con emissioni entro i limiti di legge potrebbe avere conseguenze sulla salute della popolazione, e perciò si è ritenuta sufficiente l’analisi di dati esistenti in merito agli effetti sulla salute.

The Apple Vision Pro has created a demand for high-fidelity 180° stereoscopic immersive video. While capturing this on land is a known challenge, doing so underwater has historically been considered an optical impossibility. Here is where the ACHTEL3DeepImmersive comes in. It is a revolutionary underwater housing designed specifically to meet the rigorous standards of immersive stereoscopic 3D image capture. Traditional underwater cinematography relies on dome or flat ports, but these are fundamentally incompatible with high-quality 3D immersion due to how they interact with the human visual system. The 3Deep Immersive housing bypasses these limitations by abandoning the single-port design entirely. Instead, it utilizes a pair of 180° submersible lenses, optics specifically engineered to be in direct contact with water. By combining submersible optics with the massive data throughput of the 9×7 camera, the ACHTEL 3Deep is currently the only system capable of delivering seamless, high-resolution underwater imaging that modern display devices, such as Apple Vision Pro, demand The 3Deep Housings are available for sale and rental. Matthew Allard is a multi-award-winning, ACS accredited freelance Director of Photography with over 35 years' of experience working in more than 50 countries around the world.He is the Editor of Newsshooter.com and has been writing on the site since 2010.Matthew has won 51 ACS Awards, including six prestigious Golden Tripods. In 2016 he won the Award for Best Cinematography at the 21st Asian Television Awards.Matthew is available to hire as a DP in Japan or for work anywhere else in the world.

“Shut it down. Shut it all down. It’s starting….Close the port. Shutter the businesses. Sound the siren….You refuse to accept our history, to accept the truth, and I’ve lived with that for years, but now it’s gonna get people killed….The island has lain dormant, but she’s waking up, and that’s when bad things happen. You think the fog out there is natural? No, it ain’t natural. It already took Shep and it will take the rest of us tonight. It’s a haunt!” It may not look like it to read it, but this is some of the funniest dialogue I’ve heard on TV all year. Delivered by the legendary character actor Stephen Root as Wyck, the eccentric old harbormaster of a quaint New England fishing village calledWidow’s Bay, it’s a warning about impending death and damnation…and I got no further than the third sentence in the speech, “It’s starting,” before bursting out laughing. A guy who talks only in the voice of bad Stephen King knockoffs from the 1980s? Why, he’s speaking my language! Written by creator Katie Dippold (Parks and Recreation) and directed by Hiro Murai (Atlanta), the aptly titled series premiere “Welcome to Widow’s Bay!” introduces us to Tom Loftis, mayor of the titular town on an island off an unspecified stretch of New England coast. A former summer tourist himself — he had a shotgun wedding with a townie, leading to the birth of his son Evan (Kingston Rumi Southwick) — Tom is convinced Widow’s Bay has the potential to be “the next Bar Harbor.” He’s invited aNew York Timestravel writer, Arthur Lloyd (Bashir Salhuddin), to check the place up in hopes of driving up business. In the process receives virtually no help worthy of the name from any of the assistants on his staff: dolorous Patricia (Kate O’Flynn), gossipy Rosemary (Dale Dickey), ancient Ruth (K Callan), or nebbishy Dale (Jeff Hiller). His mildly delinquent pothead son Evan adds to his agita, and to that of the slightly run-down town’s sheriff, Bechir (Kevin Carroll). Between an anomalous earthquake and a strange fog bank rolling in off the ocean, even nature is refusing to cooperate. But that’s nothing compared to the consternation caused when Wyck cranks up the town’s World War II–era air raid siren to warn the townsfolk about the coming fog. It seems Widow’s Bay has a long, long,looooooonghistory of “bad things” happening, things Tom is determined either not to learn about or dismiss as superstition and old sailor’s tales. I mean, surely there’s nothing to the legend of “The Fog That Stole Souls,” or the zombies of shipwrecked sailors out to avenge a drowned captain’s young bride. (Wyck and Patricia have a brief disagreement about age-gap relationships as a result.) And all that stuff Arthur learns from town historical society worker Gerrie (Nancy Lenehan) about the cannibalism in the church, or the witch hunt? (“Great source of pride. We caught ’em, we burned ’em…”) These stories get so exaggerated over the years. And the serial killer called “the Boogeyman” whose memory still haunts Patricia, one of his survivors? “He murdered teenage girls,” Tom points out. “You’re in your 40s, you’d be fine!” And there’scertainlynothing to the idea that those born on the island drop dead if they ever leave it, which Tom would know, since son Evan hasdefinitelybeen to the mainland before, right? And it’s probably gotnothingto do with why his mom’s no longer around. But Tom’s skepticism is sorely tested when he’s attacked by Shep (Tom Kemp), a boat captain who disappears overnight and staggers ashore sopping wet hours later. In the hospital alone with Tom, his eyes roll over white just like in Wyck’s legends, and he viciously attacks Tom before collapsing again. The event rattles Tom badly enough to make a big scene in front of Arthur the travel writer later that night, begging townsfolk not to go out into the dark. “There’s something in the fog!” he screams…moments before the lights come back on and the fog lifts. Arthur assumes he’s going for a Salem vibe and assures him his town, which could be another Martha’s Vineyard, doesn’t need the haunted-house gimmick. Of course, Arthur doesn’t know he’s standing above several layers of tunnels and dungeons above a torture chamber and a sealed passage to the underworld or something as he says this. Neither does Tom, but I’ve got a feeling he’s gonna find out. Widow’s Bayis likeStranger Thingsif it had the smarts to be satirical. Dippold’s expertlly targeted script draws on many of the same reference points as the Netflix blockbuster, though it’s more Stephen King than Steven Spielberg. But it proceeds from the idea that unless you’re a fake 1980s D&D kid, statements like “the fog took him” don’t really pass muster as an explanation for why one of your neighbors has disappeared, no matter how many horror paperbacks you’ve read. It works backwards from there: “Okay, so what would people whodofind this an acceptable explanation actually look like to a normal person?” The people of Widow’s Bay are your very funny answer. But none of this comes across as mean-spirited dunking on a harmless horror subgenre because of the superb casting of the show’s lead. Long one of the best actors on television, Matthew Rhys is exceedingly good at seeming uncomfortable. In a drama, this is a quality that generates empathy: It’s what helped sell his torment as a conflicted deep-cover spy inThe Americansand a frequently roughed-up detective inPerry Mason, one of David Zaslav’s most egregious HBO casualties. In a comedy, however, this is straight-man energy, of the increasingly frazzled sort that John Cleese used to radiate onFawlty Towers. I’ve heardWidow’s Baydescribed as “a Stephen King town run by the mayor fromJaws,” but it actually does feel a lot likeBasil Fawlty’s Darkplace,or a giant Halloween episode ofThe Office: a pasty-faced, condescending jerk who desperately wants to drum up business can’t stop getting in his own way, or stop his contentious employees from doing it for him. Most importantly for a comedy,Widow’s Bayis funny as hell. A lot of the humor is just straight-up workplace comedy, really, but look at this exchange between Tom and Gerrie (haha): “Remarkable story. Forty-two passengers from the mainland embarked by sea to find a settlement they could call their own.” “Yeah, no, 43 passengers embarked—” “I, I, I think it’s a little early for that story, Gerrie. But imagine arriving in an untamed wilderness. Blank canvas. Totally empty island.” “Except for the teeth.” “The…yeah, but the point I’m trying to make here is that there were nopeoplehere, you know?” Or this one, between Dale and Tom and Rosemary: “So I guess you don’t want me to take him to the old hospital?” “No, I don’t, Dale, and I think you knew that.” “It’s perfectly safe to drive by the old hospital! You just can’t stop.” The weirdness keeps bubbling up all over the place, and Tom keeps scrambling to keep it from surfacing. It’s a great set-up for situation comedy, one as old as the chocolate factory bit onI Love Lucy. It just involves cannibalism now. Sean T. Collins (@seantcollins.comon Bluesky andtheseantcollinson Patreon) has written about television for The New York Times, Vulture, Rolling Stone, andelsewhere. He is the author ofPain Don’t Hurt: Meditations on Road House. He lives with his family on Long Island.