Donato Albicocco: "A good captain and a competent crew are the most important investment for a shipowner."

Captain Donato Albicocco, originally from Lavagna (Genoa), graduated from the Nautical Institute of Camogli, where he cultivated his innate passion for the sea, gaining experience aboard pleasure boats during his summer breaks. After graduation and a stint on ferries, he decided to return to pleasure sailing, accepting a job with a Lavagna-based shipowner on a 27-meter vessel. With determination, he continued his apprenticeship on increasingly larger vessels, eventually reaching 50 meters, earning his Italian professional qualifications and earning his first command in 2010.

Commander Albicocco, how difficult is it for a young Italian to pursue a career like yours?

Our work is wonderful and rewarding, but it also involves a certain amount of sacrifice, such as being away from home on weekends and holidays, sometimes for quite long periods; sacrifices that are especially difficult for young people today to accept.

As for the difficulties, I'd say they aren't in finding jobs, but rather in obtaining Italian professional qualifications, especially regarding the bureaucratic aspect. It's true that in my day, the difficulties were amplified by the changes underway at the time to separate careers between merchant shipping and pleasure sailing, but these issues persist despite the introduction of new regulations. Unfortunately, in Italy, bureaucracy complicates the process compared to what happens abroad."

What difficulties does bureaucracy create in your work as commanders?

We're lagging behind on the technological front. We should be able to easily interact with the port authorities, the institutional body responsible for our sector, but instead we're still forced to present ourselves with paper logbooks and documents. We should follow the example of digitally advanced foreign countries, where these operations are carried out more simply and quickly. However, it should be noted that the port authorities themselves are having difficulty implementing ministerial directives. Since the closure of the Ministry of Merchant Marine, the problems have worsened, resulting in a significant loss of time and resources for us seafarers. To effectively address this impasse, it would be appropriate to establish a technical committee involving industry institutions and captains' associations.

You're a member of the A.Ma.Di board of directors, the recreational boating association. Are you able to team up with other associations in the sector to gain more influence?

"Indeed, I've always maintained that we seafarers should be united, and I'm pleased to note that an interesting phenomenon is currently emerging: an ongoing dialogue has been established between the associations, and although each has its own specific objectives, their collective commitment contributes to the common good. I hope that our relationships will intensify with a view to collaborating with the relevant authorities to achieve what I consider to be two primary objectives: simplifying the professional career path and enhancing the value of Italian seafarers. This latter aspect is particularly important to me, as I would like to see a greater number of Italian captains and crews on the many yachts our country produces."

How can we effectively combat this competition from foreign commanders?

If the Italian education system were more streamlined, our young people could more easily seize job opportunities, avoiding having to rely on foreign qualifications to accelerate their entry into the sector. Personally, I'm a firm supporter of the Italian qualification, as I believe our training is of a high standard, despite the one flaw of an overly complex curriculum that can be demotivating. With the new decree, it seems we're finally reaching out to young people; we'll see how the situation develops.

You worked for five years with an Italian shipowner and for ten years with a German shipowner. What significant differences did you find between the two experiences?

Without taking anything away from my first owner, it's well known that Germans are very meticulous people. Perhaps because of my own attitude, I found a great connection with my current owner, which made the job considerably easier. We met through a shipyard that had offered to transport his new boat, a 24-meter Azimut 80, from Fano to Lavagna, and our acquaintance led to a mutual understanding that led to a proposal for a collaboration. My owner is an expert in the nautical sector, and we have developed a relationship of trust and direct communication. He enjoys his boat, and together we are growing in this adventure, while we are building a new vessel, a 27-meter Ferretti 860. Our crew consists of two permanent members and a third who supports us in certain situations.

What kind of relationship is established on a 24-meter boat?

The owner of a boat like this, which due to its size has a small crew, certainly has different habits than those who manage large yachts. They must consider that each crew member has multiple tasks and rest needs that cannot be overlooked. It's possible to do anything, but for it to be done well, it's essential that the owner be flexible. When there's this spirit of collaboration, a friendly, almost family-like atmosphere naturally develops: and that's exactly what happened between us, the owner and his family. I will never stop reiterating that the most important investment an owner can make, besides the investment in the boat, is in a good captain and a competent crew, who will take care of the vessel throughout its life cycle: from construction, to maintenance, to cruising, all the way to sale.

As a captain, in your career, have you been able to actively contribute to the shipyard during the construction phase of a new yacht?

“When I oversaw the construction of a 50-meter custom yacht, I definitely received more attention from the shipyard. In 'series' construction of smaller yachts, the difficulties increase, because the shipyard tends to follow predefined lines and standards. However, the owner often wants to make changes, and this is where the captain's role comes in, having to find a balance. I believe that by adopting a proactive attitude and focusing on finding solutions rather than problems, one can generally achieve what is needed.”

When will the new 27-meter vessel be ready and what are your plans?

The new yacht will be ready next May. Thanks to the owner's determination, we've already planned all the stages of our journey: we'll depart from Venice and sail towards Croatia, making several stops along the way. We'll then explore the entire Italian coast, arriving in Lavagna, where we have our base, around late August or early September. I usually develop the program based on my knowledge and the owner's preferences, trying to limit the hours of navigation. The owner, in turn, can suggest options, sharing them with me, thanks to our relationship of trust.

What critical issues do you encounter in carrying out your job as commander?

The main critical issues I encounter are the difficulty of finding a suitable crew and the need for effective training. I believe that training, the crux of both problems, must be managed with greater commitment and strategy by us captains and should be addressed not only to those with experience, but also to new recruits. We must dedicate time and resources to developing their skills by creating practical and theoretical learning opportunities, to motivate them and foster a passion for this profession, so that they not only perceive the difficulties and sacrifices, but also the satisfaction and opportunities it offers. Another issue concerns Italian marinas. I speak for my segment of boat: normally – for budget reasons – those who captain 24-meter yachts don't turn to agencies to book a mooring, but when they do look for a place, they have difficulty obtaining one, especially during the busiest months. But not only that: often, basic services on land don't work, and we find ourselves unable to discharge waste water or not able to get electricity due to some malfunction. The reason for all this is that the majority The management of Italian marinas is now outdated and should be updated with investments that, while costly, are essential. I believe the problem should be addressed at the Italian level, because the entire nautical industry brings wealth to the country and must be fully revalued.”

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