Article 318 of the Maritime Code establishes that the crew of national vessels manned in Italian ports must consist entirely of Italian nationals (and now from other countries belonging to EU). Such a situation will persist even under the International Register regarding vessels registered upon 1st January 1998 according to articles 146 and 148 of the Navigation Code or those assimilated through agreement between the Social Partners.
These vessels shall be manned entirely by Italian/EU crews and shall have at least one deck cadet officer and one cadet engineer embarked.
However, by virtue of art.2 of Law nฐ 30 the crew of vessels coming from foreign registers under bare boat charter according to articles 28 and 29 of the Law 14 June 1989 n.234 may be made of six Italians only; save for the Master, the Chief Officer and the Chief Engineer that shall be compulsory Italians, the remaining three crew members may be chosen among Officers and Petty Officers, under the above condition that at least one deck cadet officer and one cadet engineer shall be embarked.
The same above requirement shall apply to vessels purchased abroad or anyhow coming from foreign registers as well newly built vessels delivered to the shipowners on a date subsequent to the effective date of the law coming into force.
As far as personnel not being a part of the crew are concerned, priority must be given to Italian personnel with a training and working contract, in compliance with Law 19th December 1984 no. 863. Failing the availability of such personnel, any workers (i.e. different from Italian/EU citizens) can be recruited.
The crew employed on the vessels must be in possession of certificates issued or recognised by the Italian Administration or any other Administration of a State signatory of the International Convention on a Standard of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers adopted in London on 7th July 1978 and ratified by Law 21st November 1985 no. 739.
It shall be borne in mind that a pre-requisite for eligibility is the existence of an agreement between the Trade Unions representing employers and employees respectively to be filed before the Register Office of the vessel.