Logistics, business appeal: 'One hundred million for intermodality'

Promote intermodal transport (truck+train, ship+truck, ship+train) through state incentives. But to be fully effective, it is necessary to increase the Sea modal shift (former Marebonus) and Ferrobonus budgets for each measure to at least 100 million euros per year. In 2022, the year in which the Marebonus incentive was not disbursed, there was a 4% increase in truck traffic on the Anas network compared to 2019. Moreover, with reference to maritime intermodality, it will be crucial that the resources from the EU taxation on ETS (Emission Trading Scheme) are reinvested by the Italian government entirely in the maritime sector, for example by helping to increase the budget allocated precisely to the Sea modal shift, because 'what comes from the sea must go back to the sea'.

These are the salient passages of the report that Guido Grimaldi, president of Alis (Sustainable Intermodality Logistics Association), will deliver today at the association's general assembly in Rome. Ministers Antonio Tajani (Foreign Affairs), Matteo Salvini (Infrastructure and Transport), Guido Crosetto (Defence) and Daniela Santanchè (Tourism), among others, are expected to attend. Alis, established in October 2016, represents over 2,300 companies (including seafarers, road hauliers, rail operators and logistics professionals), with around 320,000 workers and 90 billion in aggregate turnover. At present, Sea modal shift and Ferrobonus have a budget of EUR 60 and 50 million respectively, spread in equal parts over five years, until 2026. In particular, the Sea modal shift is the incentive aimed at road haulage companies that choose to make their journeys on maritime routes specifically identified by the Ministry of Transport (MIT) as an alternative to all-road transport.

Says Grimaldi: "Sustainable transport, and in particular intermodal transport, is one of the main levers of competitiveness and change that can make our companies grow through the integration of different modes of transport, thus reducing environmental impact, road congestion, the risk of accidents, and improving the efficiency of logistics chains and the lives of citizens. Current and concrete examples promoted by our companies,' continued the president of Alis, 'are the new rail links to Germany and the new maritime line between Italy and Turkey, which further promote trade towards Northern Europe and Asia.

According to Eurostat data, intermodal freight transport in Europe will grow by 4.5% in 2023 compared to the previous year. With reference to the activities of Alis members operating in maritime and rail intermodality, the association's study centre together with Srm has drawn up the following estimates, referring to the year 2024: 6 million lorries will be diverted from Italian motorways thanks to intermodal transport; 143 million tonnes of goods will be transferred from motorways to intermodal transport, through the national network of ports and freight villages; 5.4 million tonnes of CO2 emissions will be cut. Grimaldi adds: "Over the last ten years, Ro-Ro traffic has experienced significant growth in Italian ports, recording an increase of 56% and thus confirming that the Italian peninsula is a natural infrastructure and boasts a strategic position in the Mediterranean".