President Mattarella stresses sea rescues as core maritime value at shipowners' anniversary

At the 125th celebration of the Confederazione Italiana degli Armatori, President Sergio Mattarella lauded the merchant fleet and the Italian Navy for their rescue operations in the Mediterranean, describing them as expressions of the nation’s maritime heritage. He emphasized that such missions embody responsibility, safety and the safeguarding of human life, core principles of seafaring. Mattarella warned that actors seeking to set their own navigation rules would reverse the historical development of civilization and multilateralism.

He underscored the sector’s contribution to Italy’s economy, accounting for 11% of GDP and supporting tourism. The speech also referenced current crises in the Black Sea, Red Sea, piracy off the Horn of Africa and the Gulf of Guinea, calling for peace and dialogue. Finally, he urged Italy, Europe and other nations to defend multilateral rules and reject proprietary approaches to navigation.