The Director-General’s Decree issued by the Directorate-General for Ports, Logistics and Intermodality of the Italian Ministry of Transport – published on the Ram Spa website – regulates the third round of the Sea Modal Shift incentive, the contribution supporting road–sea combined transport established under General Regulation No. 166 of 11 October 2023. The scheme aims to shift freight volumes from the road network to shortsea services, particularly on ro-ro and ro-pax routes, to reduce congestion and emissions.
The funds available for the period amount to 12 million euros, allocated under chapter 1245/1 of the state budget with a 2027 forecast. The application window is open from noon on 18 November 2025 until noon on 17 December 2025 via the Ram Spa management platform. Eligible journeys for the incentive must take place between 6 December 2025 and 5 December 2026.
The contribution may be requested by haulage companies operating third-party freight transport, including those belonging to consortia or groupings. Each company may submit only one application, even if it is part of a collective entity. Companies based in another state of the European Economic Area must appoint a representative with an Italian tax code to complete the procedure. Applications must be digitally signed by the legal representative or delegate, and access to the platform is granted via Spid, Cie or Cns digital identity. An active certified email account is also required.
During the access phase, companies must enter their administrative and tax details, including registration with the National Electronic Register or the Hauliers’ Register, or the equivalent Community licence. They must also provide Chamber of Commerce registration details and information on the legal representative. The core of the procedure is the forecast embarkation plan, a document estimating the journeys to be carried out during the incentive period and enabling the managing body to calculate the reservation of funds. Uploading the plan is mandatory for eligibility. Companies must also declare their commitment to using digital systems capable of interacting with the platform throughout the duration of the incentive.
The overall process consists of an access phase, focused on reserving funds through the forecast plan, followed by a reporting phase that will begin after 5 December 2026. In this second phase, beneficiaries must submit details of the journeys actually completed, which will form the basis for payment of the contribution. Operational terms and required documentation will be set out in a subsequent Director-General’s Decree. The right to the contribution will be confirmed only after the final data has been verified.
