We have trained our men to defend themselves”
Confitarma’s vice president: “Today it’s the Yemeni Houthi, years ago it was the Somalis. If the crisis were to prolong, the shipping would follow the Shanghai-Rotterdam route, it would be difficult to turn back”
It all started in Salerno in the 1930s when Massimo Ciro d’Amico traded wood from the Manfredi pier. “He imported from Albania, from Crimea,” says his nephew Cesare, CEO of “d’Amico shipping company”, while his cousin Paolo is the executive president. Cesare is also the vice president of Confitarma, which brings together 156 companies and a fleet of 771 ships, of which 80 belong to the Campanian entrepreneur: 35 for liquid transport, 45 for so-called dry bulk.
This story of healthy entrepreneurship – which in this decade will be engaged in decarbonization – confirms the close ties between Campania and the Black Sea, not forgetting that the foundation of Odessa is also due to the Neapolitans and that “O Sole Mio” was written there. Italy was among the first countries to send units of the navy to escort commercial ships. The issue of pirate attacks is not new: today they are the Yemeni Houthi, years ago they were the Somalis, but at the time it was more complex to send escort ships. We constantly follow the evolution of the situation, without losing optimism and therefore it would be desirable to send a third navy unit, also because the range of action of the Houthi has expanded from the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden.
We must hope that the exclusively defensive line decided by the EU works as moral persuasion for the pirates and that the shipping can return to normal.” We live with the uncertainty and concern for the safety of the crews who board the ships to work, certainly not to fight. However, in the last ten years, to deal with dangers, we have had to train men to defend themselves in case of attacks, we have equipped ships with armored rooms where to take refuge.” However, it is often a flare-up, then prices go down and stabilize, because it is the market that makes the difference.
I would like to point out that the sector most involved in speculative dynamics is that of fruits and vegetables, because perishable goods do not withstand long journeys, around Africa instead of transiting through the Suez Canal, and it is no coincidence that some entrepreneurs are using airplanes for their import-export.” It only takes 48 hours to get a product from Rotterdam to Italy because the European logistics system is better organized. If the crisis were to prolong for another 6, 8 months, the shipping would adapt to follow that route and it would be more difficult to turn back, even though our ports have made great strides in the last ten years, I think of Gioia Tauro and Salerno in particular, even though the volumes are certainly not those of Rotterdam.” But beware: do not think of an increase in the number of ports, perhaps dictated by exclusively political reasons, because the results would have to be divided among more subjects.”
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