Assarmatori has no doubts: the fuel needed to allow the Decarbonization of shipping is natural gas liquified. "Liquefied natural gas - the President of the Shipowners' Association, Stefano Messina, in On the occasion of today's meeting of the organization - it is the fuel to focus on to accompany shipping in the energy transition and with its large-scale use it is possible to already contribute to the achievement of the objectives set from the European Union. The government, he urged, must follow us on this road." Messina pointed out that 'the concept of technological neutrality, i.e. a catalogue of fuels available at each airport, it is not reasonable to applicable to Italian ports; ports nestled within a urban fabric that makes the presence of an entire range unthinkable of depots for the supply of ships. The identification of which fuel is chosen - he explained - must take place at sea, because only shipowners have all the parameters at their disposal, including technological capabilities and awareness of investment, which are essential for making choices. Ask Therefore, the Government to set up a review table to define the needs of shipping companies and on the basis of these open a concrete dialogue with the European Commission: of extraordinary importance, especially for the trafficking of proximity, i.e. those linked to the presence of distribution facilities in the main ports of call in Italy and in the Mediterranean. The future of local maritime public transport, of the Motorways of the Sea, cruise traffic and connections with the islands, all markets in which Italy occupies a leading position - underlined the president of Assarmatori - depends on the choices that will be made with regard to the availability of alternative fuels to be used by these units'.

In addition to needs specifically related to transport maritime and port supplies, the consideration of of Messina is also based on the importance of gas supplies are also covering for industry Italy, especially in light of the strong geopolitical tensions that Eastern Europe and the Middle East: "in 2023 - he - Italian gas imports via pipeline are decreased by 22.51% compared to 2022; Over the same period of time, the On the other hand, imports of liquid gas, by ship, are increased by more than 16%. A clear trend, which in the first six months of 2024 has been further consolidated. I'm sure that at the end of the year, when we have the final numbers, we will record a further increase in the supply that takes place precisely thanks to maritime transport, unequivocally demonstrating the the importance of this asset for our country."

In his report to the Assembly, which we publish in the section "Forums of Shipping and Logistics", Messina is intervened again on flagging out, i.e. the phenomenon that sees An increasing number of ships armed by Italian shipowners change abandoning the national flag: "It's worth it - he said - reiterate once again: shipowners do not They choose to change the flag by replacing it on their ships with a flag of convenience; This is not the case: what search, and which they often even find in state registers Member States of the European Union, is less bureaucracy, which is translates into efficiency, speed, lower running costs for the same safety and certifications. However, I would like to give credit to the government, members of Parliament, heads of the various administrations, because a lot has been done in the Last few months: we ask you not to give up and to bring home the Result to defend the competitiveness of the flag Italian. Our hope is that next year we will be able to Talk about the rules that remain to be refined with new Measures. There is a lot to do, but it will be crucial A compact cluster with indisputable professional skills."

On the occasion of the association's assembly, at which he was Chris Bonett, Minister of Transport, Minister of Infrastructure and Public Works of Malta, the Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Public Works Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Edoardo Rixi, urged the next European Commission to "commit itself to a lot on maritime connectivity, better," he said if with a "Mediterranean" commissioner'. In In particular, Rixi listed several issues that the executive body should address: 'among the priorities - he specified - we report the revision of the directive on the extension of the ETS to the seafarer, the promotion of a European regulatory intervention to strengthen the role of logistics and maritime connectivity as a tool for autonomy European strategic strategy, the promotion of investment at European level on new fuels'.

Referring to the exchange of views with Minister Bonnet, Rixi explained that the discussion "was useful for strengthen coordination on the actions to be put in place and it is necessary to It is precisely our membership of different political groups - he has added - to give greater strength to our proposals, because of general interest. Maintaining strong cohesion between countries seafarers, regardless of their political affiliation, will be fundamental for the future of European competitiveness'.