The surge in fuel costs, linked to the ongoing geopolitical crisis and tensions in the Persian Gulf, is putting pressure on Italy’s maritime transport sector, with direct effects on logistics. This is the warning issued by Assarmatori and Confitarma, which have alerted the government to the concrete risk of reduced services, particularly on domestic routes and connections to the islands, unless urgent corrective measures are introduced. According to the two associations, higher fuel prices are significantly affecting scheduled maritime services, which are already exposed to rising operating costs, partly due to European environmental policies. This situation could lead to the suspension of some connections that are essential for territorial continuity.
The proposal put forward by Assarmatori and Confitarma, addressed to Deputy Minister of Transport Edoardo Rixi and Minister for Civil Protection Nello Musumeci, includes the introduction of an extraordinary contribution in the form of a tax credit. The proposed mechanism would be based on compensating the additional expenditure incurred for fuel purchases in March, April and May compared with the average price recorded in February. The initiative comes on the eve of a Council of Ministers meeting set to discuss a new Fuel Decree Law, aimed at containing the impact of rising energy costs on the economy. In this context, the maritime sector points out that it has been excluded from the initial emergency measures, despite its strategic role in the national logistics system. The associations stress the need to ensure a level playing field across different modes of transport, at a time marked by significant volatility in energy costs.
