Italy’s maritime sector has asked the Government to adopt clear uniform guidelines coordinated at the central level, as well as support for work in terms of contributions and social security benefits amid the coronavirus outbreak.
This is what the two Italian shipowners’ associations, Confitarma and Assarmatori, proposed to Minister Paola De Micheli during the meeting of 2 March at the Porta Pia, where they met to discuss emergency measures to deal with coronavirus.
According to data by Italian maritime association Assarmatori, container arrivals dropped in the Adriatic ports. On the cruise lines, there is a 50% drop in bookings while in the short haul there are cancellations up to 70%.
As noted, the effects caused by the freeze on trade with China will be felt in the spring, in the ports of the Upper Adriatic, from Trieste to Venice, which have already recorded a significant drop in container arrivals.
A longer duration will have serious effects both in terms of cruises – where already there is recorded a 50% drop in bookings – and freight transport, reaching the worst point in May.
Moreover, Assarmatori pointed out that the present decrease in traffic could also impact the state finances, since Italian ports could be replaced with foreign ones, with a consequent failure to collect duties.
Considering that these amount to 13 billion euros per year, even if only 10% of the ships were “diverted” to ports other than ours, the loss would be 1 billion and 300 thousand euros.
For her part, the Minister anticipated the contents of a forthcoming Prime Ministerial Decree, expected to feature clarifications on the methods of reimbursement for travelers who have requested the cancellation of their reservation.
The association informed that these will not be paid cash, but in the form of vouchers for new trips, in an effort to limit the problem for shipping companies.
Other measures could also include the request from Assarmatori for a moratorium on the so-called Anchorage Tax and any Surcharge for goods on deck.
In fact, the Minister welcomed this solution, which could counteract the loss of competitiveness of Italian ports caused by the drastic drop of ships.
Finally, the Minister announced that an Emergency Committee was set up at the Civil Protection department, with the task of carrying out the guidelines that are proportional to the measures established by the WHO.
