Genova for Yachting raises its voice once again on the issue of visas for non-EU crews.

Genova for Yachting, the association representing professional nautical operators in Genoa, once again denounces what it calls a "serious situation of hardship" created by the implementation of the European ruling that has limited the free movement of non-EU crews in Italy starting in 2021.

According to the association, other European countries (France and Spain) continue to welcome non-EU seafarers aboard their ships, "unlike Italy, which expels them after 90 days." "A detailed discussion with the main Ligurian operators," stated Giovanni Costaguta, president of Genova for Yachting, "reveals an average 20% drop in stays and an estimated €50 million per quarter in damage to the professional nautical sector and the related industries in Genoa and Liguria. The extension of a work visa to seafarers, introduced in May 2022 as a 'stopgap solution,' does not work in the majority of cases, for a series of often 'structural' reasons that undermine its effectiveness."

Anchors in the past few weeks Federagenti – Yacht section had intervened instead to make it known instead (especially abroad) that the problem had now been overcome.

Genova for Yachting, "which has long developed a correct regulatory interpretation and a technical-legal solution to resolve the problem and allow seafarers to remain operational onboard ships for the time necessary for commercial operations and technical stops," says it is "strongly committed to promoting the implementation of this solution. To this end, it has received the support and willingness of Confindustria's representative bodies to resume discussions with the government."

Costaguta concluded by saying: "We once again ask Ligurian politicians and institutions, who have always been at our side, to renew their commitment to stopping this unjustified and senseless damage to a Ligurian sector of excellence and to the related economy, as well as to the treasury."

In its communication, Genova for Yachting also reported some testimonies collected in recent days from various stakeholders in the large-scale yachting industry.

Alessandro Menozzi, CEO of Porto Mirabello: "To date, we've seen a decline in the number of vessels with non-EU crews of around 8%, but we fear this figure could increase to at least 20-25%, particularly during the winter of 2023/2024. Our marina is primarily a homeport, and the presence of resident megayachts is vital to our business, as well as to the related industries created for the city of La Spezia. I therefore express my serious concern regarding the immigration issue, which I believe must be resolved with extreme urgency."

Fabio Pesto, president of Marina Molo Vecchio & Agenzia Pesto Sea Group: "Since the opening of Marina Molo Vecchio in 1997, we've witnessed multiple trends and overcome some very challenging times. However, never before has the decline been so clear and prolonged. The decline, amounting to approximately 20-30% fewer stopovers compared to last year, is undoubtedly attributable to multiple factors, including the war and the uncontrolled rise in electricity costs compared to other nations. However, I believe the main issue behind this decline is visa requirements for seafarers. This places us in a position of unjustified competitive disadvantage compared to neighboring countries, which, on the other hand, have seen a substantial consistency in the number of yachts and superyachts at their accommodation facilities."

Alberto Amico, president of Amico&Co and Waterfront Marina: "The unjustified and unfair suppression of crews' rights to work aboard yachts in Italian marinas and shipyards has become a negative factor that permanently influences captains' and managers' decisions to a priori rule out Italy for technical stops, homeports, shipyard refits, and charter calls. Documented job losses among regular marina and waterfront clients are in the order of 20%, in addition to clients who no longer consider Italy as a first point of contact. The situation is progressively worsening, also given the substantial failure of the introduction of the D permit (a work permit for foreigners in Italy), which is completely unsuitable for the purpose, mostly
Inapplicable and unapplied by the entities that should issue it. The fact that France and Spain continue to respect seafarers' rights and protect their economies by correctly interpreting the European law not only constitutes a competitive advantage for them and a disastrous loss for the Italian industry, but is yet another opportunity to fuel prejudice against Italy and its out-of-control bureaucracy. We are helplessly witnessing a loss of reputation that will be difficult to overcome, as well as enormous economic damage to the industry, the local economy, and the treasury.

Giuseppe Pappalardo, CEO of Marina Genova: "This continues to be a very challenging time, after we deluded ourselves into thinking we were emerging from two years of absolute uncertainty. Witnessing such a superficial and inadequate (alleged) solution to the serious problem of non-EU seafarers only increases anxiety and frustrates our attempts to imagine a future."

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Non-EU seafarers: the current solution is insufficient to bridge the competitive gap with foreign countries.