As the personal doctor and the forces of safety - ECSA and ETF emphasize - in these critical moments the marine ones are working essential things and are need that the governments recognize them as such



Because of the emergency for the spread in Europe of the Covid-19 the European section of the marine transport risks to collassare and in order to avoid it the urgent is necessary adoption of legislations and specific initiatives. They have emphasized today the European Community Shipowners' Associations (ECSA) and the European Trasnport Workers' Federation (ETF) evidencing that it is basic to assure that the marine industry of the European Union is able to carry out its crucial function for the economy and the citizens of Europe. The association of the European shipowners and the European union of the workers of the transports has rimarcato the necessity to guarantee that essential assets, energy, food, medicines and many other goods produced outside from the EU can be delivered at the market European, to its citizens and its industries, and that they can be transported in possible the more fluid way between the Member States of the EU. If this will not be guaranteed - they have found the ECSA and ETF - many chains of supplying will endure serious consequences or will go encounter to a block total being profitable the provoked economic impact from the crisis still more important regarding how much already it has not happened.

Based on such considerations the ECSA and ETF have invited the EU to support this field and its workers with measures and set in action detailed lists that - the two organizations have restated - must be adopted with the maximum urgency.

The ECSA and ETF have explained that the measures adopted up to now from the States of the EU in order to limit the circulation of the people to the aim to reduce lessened the risks of infection, although comprehensible, are having serious repercussions on the circulation of the marine ones and have specified that also the closing of the ports represents an important factor. The two organizations have emphasized that it is all-important that the ships can berth where necessary and that the members of the crews can be embarked or disembark from their ships facing the minor possible number of obstacles, displacements - they have specified ECSA and ETF - than instead are becoming more and more difficult. The two organizations therefore have asked that it is guaranteed the flexibility and the assistance necessary in order to guarantee that the marine ones can continue to carry out own job and have the permission to leave from their houses and to re-enter to you. Such fine ECSA and ETF have asked that the marine ones are exempted by the prohibition to the effettuazione of disposed travels on a national level. Moreover two organizations, even if they have not express asked not to force the marine ones that at home returns to observe a period of isolation, have exhorted to dealing them "pragmatically". Own as the personal doctor and the forces of safety - they have clarified ECSA and ETF - in these critical moments the marine ones are working essential things and is need that the governments recognize them as such and assure they a particular attention.

Between the other problematicità created from the emergency coronavirus to the marine transport, there is also - they have specified the ECSA and ETF - that relative one to the maximum duration of the periods of boarding of the marine ones. On they demanded, or for the absence of the crew that them would have to replace or for the absence of flights airplane from their port of disembarkation previewed to their the marine ones country of origin - they have clarified the two organizations - could have to on board pass more time of the ships than established from their employment contracts or previewed from the national laws that apply the international Convention on marine job (ILO-MLC, 2006). In the light of that ECSA and ETF they have asked that the States of flag and landing place apply a pragmatic approach to such situations and, estimating case by chance, to light of the implications of the pandemic and bearing in mind that the ships must navigate on board with a crew full, they allow with the members of the crews to remain on board of the ships for a reasonably advanced period to theirs previewed turns of service.

An other problem evidenced from ECSA and ETF, than last week already was placed to the attention on a national level in Italy from Assarmatori, Confitarma and Federagenti(on 12 March 2020), it is that of the certificates of which they must be in possession the marine ones. These last ones - they have explained - because of the restrictions to the travels can be forced to on board pass more time of the usual of the ship as they are not authorized to disembark. Moreover some institutes of formation have suspended the activity in order to contain the spread of the virus. This - they have observed ECSA and ETF - can therefore involve that the marine ones cannot carry out the formation necessary in order to obtain a delay of their certificates, with the consequence that could reach expiration. Also in this case the ECSA and ETF have invited the States of flag and landing place to apply a pragmatic approach extending at least three months the validity of the certificates, measure - they have specified - than for being effective would all over the world demand the involvement of the regional regimes of Port Are been Control.

The ECSA and ETF have demanded also specific measures of support and safeguard of the occupation in consideration of the fact that, because of the remarkable impact negative of the limitations to the travels on the activities of marine transport of passengers and of the reduction of the marine traffic of the goods, the navigation companies have had to adapt their operating activities and their costs reducing also the staff is of earth that sailor.

The ECSA and ETF have invited also to take in consideration the difficulties determined from the restrictions to the travels to the activity of the inspectors who, for law, must lead controls on board of the ships and have exhorted the authorities to preview for these personal exonerations regarding determined analogous measures to those which the two organizations have sped up for the marine ones.

Besides problematic the relative ones to the staff who work in the field of the marine transport, the ECSA and ETF they have put in evidence also the impact that the Covid-19 emergency has on the operating activities of the shipping, beginning from the certification of the ships that is returned more difficult by the remarkable reduction of the availability of dry docks caused from the precautionary measures in order to contain the virus. Also in this case ECSA and ETF at least three months have asked flexibility the States for the EU having proposed the extension of the validity of the current certificates, measure also this - they have specified - than for being effective would demand a global approach.

ECSA and ETF have asked moreover lines guide clear and coherent in order to allow with the cruise ships, than they are not authorized to berth in the ports of some nations, of being able to enter in their port of origin in Europe. to disembark to passengers and crew affording their repatriation.

ECSA and ETF have at last asked that the EU commission and the Member States supply assistance financial institution to the companies of the field of the shipping, that particularly is hit by the crisis. According to the two organizations, the financial institutions of the European Union would have to be supported from a normative picture adapted to level EU in order to resolve the immediate problems of liquidity of the shipowners and - they have found - the package of measures approved of last week from the European Central bank would have to be applied without delay to the aim to allow with the banks to continue to finance the marine field. Moreover, for ECSA and ETF, the support of the EU would have to cover also the financing of the investments that will be essential so that the field can be resumed over the long term. ECSA and ETF have asked also a flexible application for the guidelines in matter for aids for State the marine transports so that such aids, as for example the regimes for the reduction of the costs of labor, can be guaranteed so that shipowning and marine companies can face the current extraordinary situation.

While in Italy the Shipping president of the Italian Confederation (Confitarma), Mario Mattioli, has sent to Paola De Micheli, minister of Infrastructures and the Transports, a letter, that we publish below, in which illustrates some proposals of the Confederation so that the Italian marine section can exceed the obvious difficulties taxes from the Covid-19 emergency.

Covid-19: Confitarma proposals for the Government

today, with all national the productive woven one, the entire world of shipping - from the crocieristica, to the transport of goods and passengers, involving also the harbour services - the weevers with extreme worry evolving itself of the serious Covid-19 emergency also for the impact that it is having and it will continue to having on the Italian socioeconomic system.

The exceptional situation determined from the epidemiologica emergency that is forcing the shipowning enterprises finanche to the arrest warrant, partial or total, of the ships of own fleets demands the location of first and urgent measures of extraordinary support to the section. As famous, the transport in general terms, and that marine one in particular, covers a vital importance for the operation of the economy and in order to assure the indispensable refuelings of which our Country it needs: from the liquid raw materials and solid ones to the finished product ones that they feed our economy above all, assuring our subsistence in this period of tightening and necessary restrictions to ours normal style of life.

In particular, for the traffics of cabotage and the connections with the greater and smaller islands, the ships and their crews are the first, indispensable one, ring of the logistics of the assets first necessity, comprised food, drugs and sanitary equipments. Logistics that, above all today, cannot afford absolutely some interruption.

For these reasons, in confirming beginning right now our complete availability to continue in the action which convinced of support the Administration, we consider opportune to subject to Its attention the requirement to adopt quickly from the following measures:
Exceptional participation of support to the yield in favor of all the marine communitarian Italians and involved in situations of suspension or reduction of the working activity because of the arrest warrant of the ships. Such measure would have to integrate the resources of the Bottom of Bilateral Solidarity of Marine Field (SOLIMARE), allowing the overcoming of maximal the business ones of uses of Deep saying.
Al fine to support the marine connections that, although the decrease of the traffics and the fleeting restrictions to the transport, continues to guarantee supplying of goods, feeds and strategic medicines and producing for the Country, wishes participations turns to the cost reduction of landing place of the ships, circumstance that is already verifying in other Member States of the EU. Between these, in the first instance the temporary exoneration, to make given from the adoption of the restrictive measures adopted by the Government, the payment of the rights and other harbour burdens and, in addition, the compensation total, or at least partial, of for services harbour expenses (technical-nautical services) and of hold. The foretold measures would have to be applied to the ships in service of national cabotage, ro-ro and ro-ro pax employees also on lines of international freeways of the sea that scale Italian ports. At last, it would have to be previewed the temporary exemption, partial total or, from the payment of the concessori canons of the terminals that operate the foretold traffics.
Extension, for a period of twelve months, to the ships enrolled in the national freshmen and that they carry out compatible activities with the communitarian Guidelines in matter of aids of State to the marine transports, of the exoneration from the deposit of the social insurance and charitable contributions of which to the art.6 of the decree-law n. 457/97 enacted n.30/98.
Financings until three years to be worth on Working funds Warehouses and Loans (CDP) and with State guarantee of last request directly distributed from CDP or the Agent banks according to a convention, in order tackling to the increase of the operating costs of management, generated are as a result of operating difficulties placed from the States EU or extra EU to the ships of Italian flag and with Italian and/or communitarian crews, are of ships in la-up (outside service and/or “to the anchor”). Such proposal takes cue from the DL (so-called Decrees “Italy Cure”, while it is written about to publication) that it previews the support to the liquidity of the enterprises hit from the epidemiologica emergency “Covid-19” through financings by CDP, also in the guarantee form c.d. “first loss”.
Suspension, to the aim to adapt to the plans to the changed contingencies, relative to any pleading, communication, implementation inherent to 161 former procedures art. and 182/bis Bankrupt Law, justified with the impossibility to respect the terms previewed from the law being the process of review of the plans and the difficulty of elaboration of the same ones.
moratorium to standstill of 18 months on all the exposures financial institutions sterilizing the possibility of acceleration and others remedies of the backers.
It is also signaled that Confitarma has been activated with ABI (supplying ready informative to Confindustria) to the aim to adopt an agreement outline that it previews how much follows:
“crystallization” (forbearance) of the current agreements in being according to art. the 67 of the Bankrupt Law (Agreements of Restructure of the Debit) for the duration of 18 months. This would avoid to the enterprises that are respecting the original Plans of being newly classified between the NPLs/UTPs positions, or of having to face, in a context of extreme uncertainty, ulterior and heavy burdens connected to eventual the immediate new asseveration of the Economic-Financial Plans;
agreement that replies in the maximum principles the enforced “Agreement for the stipulated and which postponed Credit” between ABI and Confindustria and that the right of “extension” of the current hypothecating financings until a maximum of 100% of the residual duration of the same ones (with the validity of the below guarantees allows compatibly with the enterprises of the field). Such mature right for those enterprises whose positions are not classified between the NPLs/UTPs (former Deteriotated Credit).
On aforesaid last the two points, than they do not involve a directed normative engagement, the maximum support is demanded so that it can be reached as soon as possible to a formal agreement with ABI and/or the main Bank Groups.

At last, before ringraziarLa for the attention that it will want to reserve us, I consider opportune to with her share a last reflection tied to the necessity of traguardare the end of this serious emergency. I know well that It and all our Government, firstly President Conte, is already working in order to contain the most possible effects of the crisis, and to such fine, affords of formularLe the auspice that can take part in fast times the communitarian approval to renews of the regime of aids to the marine transports KNOWS 48260 (2017/NN). Our enterprises and all the logistic system would draw a great giovamento from the positive definition and in times breviums of such distance.

With the wish that this serious moment that our Country is crossing passes more in a hurry possible, I confirm to Them newly, Mrs Ministra, the full availability mine and of the Italian armament that I represent to put up with all how much She will consider opportune and necessary.

My more sincerely yours,
Mario Mattioli
Covid-19: Confitarma proposals for the Government

today, with all national the productive woven one, the entire world of shipping - from the crocieristica, to the transport of goods and passengers, involving also the harbour services - the weevers with extreme worry evolving itself of the serious Covid-19 emergency also for the impact that it is having and it will continue to having on the Italian socioeconomic system.

The exceptional situation determined from the epidemiologica emergency that is forcing the shipowning enterprises finanche to the arrest warrant, partial or total, of the ships of own fleets demands the location of first and urgent measures of extraordinary support to the section. As famous, the transport in general terms, and that marine one in particular, covers a vital importance for the operation of the economy and in order to assure the indispensable refuelings of which our Country it needs: from the liquid raw materials and solid ones to the finished product ones that they feed our economy above all, assuring our subsistence in this period of tightening and necessary restrictions to ours normal style of life.

In particular, for the traffics of cabotage and the connections with the greater and smaller islands, the ships and their crews are the first, indispensable one, ring of the logistics of the assets first necessity, comprised food, drugs and sanitary equipments. Logistics that, above all today, cannot afford absolutely some interruption.

For these reasons, in confirming beginning right now our complete availability to continue in the action which convinced of support the Administration, we consider opportune to subject to Its attention the requirement to adopt quickly from the following measures:
Exceptional participation of support to the yield in favor of all the marine communitarian Italians and involved in situations of suspension or reduction of the working activity because of the arrest warrant of the ships. Such measure would have to integrate the resources of the Bottom of Bilateral Solidarity of Marine Field (SOLIMARE), allowing the overcoming of maximal the business ones of uses of Deep saying. Al fine to support the marine connections that, although the decrease of the traffics and the fleeting restrictions to the transport, continues to guarantee supplying of goods, feeds and strategic medicines and producing for the Country, wishes participations turns to the cost reduction of landing place of the ships, circumstance that is already verifying in other Member States of the EU. Between these, in the first instance the temporary exoneration, to make given from the adoption of the restrictive measures adopted by the Government, the payment of the rights and other harbour burdens and, in addition, the compensation total, or at least partial, of for services harbour expenses (technical-nautical services) and of hold. The foretold measures would have to be applied to the ships in service of national cabotage, ro-ro and ro-ro pax employees also on lines of international freeways of the sea that scale Italian ports. At last, it would have to be previewed the temporary exemption, partial total or, from the payment of the concessori canons of the terminals that operate the foretold traffics. Extension, for a period of twelve months, to the ships enrolled in the national freshmen and that they carry out compatible activities with the communitarian Guidelines in matter of aids of State to the marine transports, of the exoneration from the deposit of the social insurance and charitable contributions of which to the art.6 of the decree-law n. 457/97 enacted n.30/98. Financings until three years to be worth on Working funds Warehouses and Loans (CDP) and with State guarantee of last request directly distributed from CDP or the Agent banks according to a convention, in order tackling to the increase of the operating costs of management, generated are as a result of operating difficulties placed from the States EU or extra EU to the ships of Italian flag and with Italian and/or communitarian crews, are of ships in la-up (outside service and/or “to the anchor”). Such proposal takes cue from the DL (so-called Decrees “Italy Cure”, while it is written about to publication) that it previews the support to the liquidity of the enterprises hit from the epidemiologica emergency “Covid-19” through financings by CDP, also in the guarantee form c.d. “first loss”. Suspension, to the aim to adapt to the plans to the changed contingencies, relative to any pleading, communication, implementation inherent to 161 former procedures art. and 182/bis Bankrupt Law, justified with the impossibility to respect the terms previewed from the law being the process of review of the plans and the difficulty of elaboration of the same ones. moratorium to standstill of 18 months on all the exposures financial institutions sterilizing the possibility of acceleration and others remedies of the backers.
It is also signaled that Confitarma has been activated with ABI (supplying ready informative to Confindustria) to the aim to adopt an agreement outline that it previews how much follows:
“crystallization” (forbearance) of the current agreements in being according to art. the 67 of the Bankrupt Law (Agreements of Restructure of the Debit) for the duration of 18 months. This would avoid to the enterprises that are respecting the original Plans of being newly classified between the NPLs/UTPs positions, or of having to face, in a context of extreme uncertainty, ulterior and heavy burdens connected to eventual the immediate new asseveration of the Economic-Financial Plans; agreement that replies in the maximum principles the enforced “Agreement for the stipulated and which postponed Credit” between ABI and Confindustria and that the right of “extension” of the current hypothecating financings until a maximum of 100% of the residual duration of the same ones (with the validity of the below guarantees allows compatibly with the enterprises of the field). Such mature right for those enterprises whose positions are not classified between the NPLs/UTPs (former Deteriotated Credit).
On aforesaid last the two points, than they do not involve a directed normative engagement, the maximum support is demanded so that it can be reached as soon as possible to a formal agreement with ABI and/or the main Bank Groups.

At last, before ringraziarLa for the attention that it will want to reserve us, I consider opportune to with her share a last reflection tied to the necessity of traguardare the end of this serious emergency. I know well that It and all our Government, firstly President Conte, is already working in order to contain the most possible effects of the crisis, and to such fine, affords of formularLe the auspice that can take part in fast times the communitarian approval to renews of the regime of aids to the marine transports KNOWS 48260 (2017/NN). Our enterprises and all the logistic system would draw a great giovamento from the positive definition and in times breviums of such distance.

With the wish that this serious moment that our Country is crossing passes more in a hurry possible, I confirm to Them newly, Mrs Ministra, the full availability mine and of the Italian armament that I represent to put up with all how much She will consider opportune and necessary.

My more sincerely yours, Mario Mattioli