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Rival shipowning association launches in Italy

Following the exodus from Confitarma, the Italian shipowners association, of some key players such as Ignazio Messina & C., Grandi Navi Veloci and Italia Marittima a new association representing the local shipping cluster has been established called AssArmatori. Among the members of the new group there are all the companies involved in the short sea shipping  (Snav, Delcomar, Caronte & Tourist, Maddalena Lines, Toremar and Caremar) but also Finaval, Moby and Tirrenia and also MSC, both with the cargo and cruises business units.

The newly elected chairman of the association Stefano Messina, head of the Genoa-based Messina Group, told Splash: “AssArmatori is born with a deep experience in several shipping markets like motorways of the seas, container, ro-ro, deep sea, cruise and ferries.” The association’s role is to influence the local institutions making them aware about the importance of shipping and logistics for cargo and passenger trades.

Messina also added: “Some of our main focus will be on the international register of ships and on the collective labour agreement for workers aboard and onshore. Although one year ago I thought I would become Confitarma’s chairman that’s not happened but I have no grudge against anyone. I will meet Mario Mattioli [the new head of Confitarma] at the end of January and I’m sure we will cooperate for the sake of the industry.”

Concluding, Messina emphasized the concept with AssArmatori’s mission is to make the Italian shipping and ports industries as competitive as possible.

Nicola Capuzzo

Nicola is a highly qualified journalist focused on transport economics, logistics and shipping with broad experience in both online and printed media. Specialties: shipping, ship finance, banking, commodities and port economics. He regularly interviews Europe's top shipowner executives for Maritime CEO magazine.
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