Newsletter | Shipping and Transport Bulletin | March 2022

In this issue:

We get back onto a topic which is now widely discussed and which we already had the chance to address in the previous issues of our Bulletin: the draft of the Italian Annual Competition Law. Let’s consider the most relevant aspects of this draft regarding the port industry.

For years, the European Union has been a leader in protecting the environment and fighting the climate change. Let’s analyse the “Fit for 55” climate Package: what implications for the maritime transport sector?

In the previous issue of our Bulletin, we provided a preview of the contents of Directive (EU) 2019/883 “on port reception facilities for the delivery of waste from ships, amending Directive 2010/65/EU and repealing Directive 2000/59/EC”. Italy has now transposed such Directive, by Legislative Decree No. 197 of 8 November 2021. Let’s see the main changes provided for by the legislator and the aspects of greater interest to users compared to the past.

We wish to point out two recent developments, which will both impact on the management of sick leaves of seafarers: (i) a decision of the Court of Rome, whereby it is reiterated that the reduced statute of limitations under Section 373 of the Italian Navigation Code also applies to occupational illness caused by the employers’ infringement of their statutory duty to protect their personnel and (ii) the circular letter No. 145/2021 of the National Social Security Institute (INPS), which provides for initial operating instructions for the new on-line service “Supplementary communications on seafarers sickness” (“Comunicazione integrativa malattia marittimi”).

The Court of Justice of the European Union, by a recent judgement, clarified the exact scope of the obligations incumbent on airlines in case of diversion of a flight to a nearby airport, serving the same city or region as the airport for which the booking was made. Let’s analyse this judgment.