Italian association ensures safe, sustainable port towage

How are Italian tug owners meeting and exceeding these challenges? 

Operators are investing in new, modern, and powerful tugs to handle even greater ships. Many of these tugs have efficient engines and exhaust aftertreatment systems to meet IMO Tier III compliance and to reduce emissions.

They are also adopting innovative solutions to improve energy efficiency and minimise their environmental impact, such as monitoring and moderating tug speeds.   

How do tug owners co-operate to enhance port services and support the supply chain? 

Collaboration occurs through the association’s working committees, such as the Ports & Infrastructure Commission and the Industrial Relations Commission. These bodies enable members to share expertise and best practice (such as with the Marine Pilot Association), align on strategic priorities, and present unified positions to regulators, ensuring that towage services remain a reliable and integral part of the supply chain. 

When do tug owners become involved in salvage and maritime cleanup? 

Many Assorimorchiatori members are involved in salvage, emergency response, pollution control and environmental remediation. Their wide network of tugboats along Italy’s coast strengthens their role as guardians in maritime safety and sustainability under maritime-authority supervision.  

How does the association support tug owners in Italy? 

Assorimorchiatori supports its members by promoting common positions on strategic issues such as regulatory frameworks and industrial relations, and by signing national collective labour bargaining. Although member companies compete for the markets, they work together on issues of common interest.

Through the Ports & Infrastructure Commission and the Industrial Relations Commission, the association facilitates dialogue on labour relations, regulatory positions and strategic priorities.

This collaborative approach strengthens the industry’s ability to present unified positions to regulators and maintain constructive relationships with trade unions.  

What is the importance of the association to owners, ports and the Italian government?  

In Italy, the competitive procedure is not expressed through competition within the market, but rather through competition for the market. This means that access to a port’s towage market is granted via an international public tender.

These tender processes are managed by the maritime authority of the relevant port on behalf of Italian Transport Ministry, which consults about service organisation with user associations – such as Assarmatori and Confitarma for Italian ship owners, and Federagenti for ship agents – and service providers’ associations.

For towage services, Assorimorchiatori is actively involved in this consultative process, ensuring that the interests and expertise of tug operators are represented and considered.

The tender process follows the principle of the economically most advantageous offer, with 75 out of 100 points assigned based on the quality of vessels and services, and the remaining 25 points based on price.

In this context, Assorimorchiatori ensures transparency and accuracy of information, safe-guarding compliance with national and European Union regulations.

The association is also key to the pricing review, acting as a reliable partner for the Italian Coast Guard and authorities to ensure accurate information and regulatory compliance. This makes Assorimorchiatori a key stakeholder for tug owners, ports and government bodies alike. 

How does the association support ports and other marine services in Italy? 

By ensuring that towage services meet the highest standards of safety, efficiency and environmental responsibility, Assorimorchiatori indirectly supports the entire port ecosystem.

Its technical input helps guarantee that the towage concession selection process rewards quality and reliability, which benefits ports and the broader maritime supply chain. 

Assorimorchiatori helps define services and organisation during the preparation of the tender procedures prior to their publication. 

We stand as a pillar of Italy’s towage industry, combining representation, technical expertise and a forward-looking approach. 

Assorimorchiatori shares the values of the Italian towage companies to be competitive and reliable by always remaining true to its guiding principles in towage: operational efficiency and navigational safety.