Stephen MessinaPresident of Assarmatoriexpressed himself in favor of the liquefied natural gas as fuel for the decarbonisation of the maritime transport. He did this by opening theAnnual Meeting 2024which was held today in Rome in the presence of the Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Matthew Salviniof the Minister of Health, Horace Schillaci and the Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Edward Rixi.
“Il liquefied natural gas (LNG) is the fuel to focus on to support shipping in the energy transition and with its large-scale use we can already contribute to achieving the objectives imposed by the European Union. The Government must follow us on this path” – Messina stated.
Assarmatori is the Association adhering to Conftrasporto-Confcommercio that brings together Italian, European and third-country shipowners who regularly operate in Italy.
Liquefied Natural Gas and Choosing the Right Fuel
“The concept of technological neutrality, or a catalogue of alternative fuels available at each port,” Messina stressed, “is not reasonably applicable to Italian ports, which are nestled within an urban fabric that makes the presence of a whole range of depots for refueling ships unthinkable. The identification of which fuel is chosen must take place at sea, because only shipowners have all the parameters, including technological capacity and investment awareness, which are essential for making choices.”
Assarmatori’s request to the Government
Messina continues: “We therefore ask the Government to set up a review table to define the needs of shipping companies and on the basis of these open a concrete discussion with the European Commission. The future of local public maritime transport, of the Motorways of the Sea, of cruise traffic and connections with the islands, all markets in which Italy occupies a leading position, depends on the choices made regarding the availability of alternative fuels used by these units” – concludes the President of Assarmatori.
The strategic centrality of the gas market
During the Assarmatori Annual Meeting, President Messina reiterated the strategic centrality of the gas market. “In 2023,” he said, “Italian gas imports via pipeline decreased by 22.51% compared to 2022; in the same period of time, liquid gas imports, via ship, increased by over 16%. A clear trend, which has further consolidated in the first six months of 2024. I am certain that when we have the final numbers, we will record further growth in supplies that occur precisely thanks to maritime transport, demonstrating unequivocally the importance of this asset for our country.”
The Flagging Out Phenomenon
The President of Assarmatori, in addition to the issues related to liquefied natural gas, also spoke about flagging out, the phenomenon that sees a growing number of ships owned by Italian shipowners change flag, expressing himself as follows: “Shipowners do not choose to change flag by replacing it on their ships with a flag of convenience; what they are looking for is less bureaucracy, which translates into efficiency, speed, lower running costs with the same safety and certifications. However, I want to give credit to the Government, to the members of Parliament, to the heads of the various Administrations, because a lot has been done in recent months: we ask not to give up and to bring home the result to defend the competitiveness of the Italian flag”
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The Assarmatori Award 2024
Il Assarmatori Award 2024a traditional recognition awarded by the Shipowners’ Association, went to the women and men of the Italian Navy, for their commitment to protecting the freedom of navigation and Italy’s interests in the seas of the world and in particular for their work within the Aspides mission, in the Red Sea, in the Strait of Bab el-Mandeb and in the Gulf of Aden, where the ships are targeted by Houthi attacks.
The Annual Meeting of the Association was also animated by a panel discussion which they took part in Chris BonetMinister of Transport, Infrastructure and Public Works of Malta, Edward RixiDeputy Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Joseph RicciChief Operating Officer Energy Evolution ENI, Hugh SalernoExecutive President of RINA and Soren ToftCEO of MSC. An international panel, moderated by the Secretary General of Assarmatori, Albert Rossiduring which a call was madeMediterranean identity for theEuropa.
