At the beginning of October 2025, the Bill entitled “Provisions for the simplification and digitalization of procedures in the field of economic activities and services for the benefit of citizens and businesses”, known as the “DDL Semplificazioni”, was approved by the Senate and subsequently submitted to the Chamber of Deputies for examination. Attorney Enrico Ottonello analyzed the key simplification measures for maritime transport and, in particular: (i) the exemption from the annotation of embarkation and disembarkation (Article 172 bis of the Navigation Code), aimed at simplifying the procedures for the embarkation, disembarkation and transshipment of seafarers under the jurisdiction of different national maritime authorities; (ii) the form of the crew employment contract (amendment of Article 328 and repeal of Article 329), to allow the ship’s Master to directly recruit crew members; (iii) the recruitment of the Master in a place where the shipowner is not present (amendment of Article 331), in order to simplify the procedure for the Master’s acceptance of the appointment; and (iv) the reorganization of the rules governing medical services on board national merchant vessels, laying down provisions on the qualifications of the relevant healthcare professionals and on premises used for medical assistance.
