Inland waterway transport and river-sea transport

The firm is a national and international leader law firm in transport law of goods and passengers via inland waterways and via river-sea transport; thanks to its high level of specialisation, over the years it has become a point of reference not only for companies and shipowners but also ministerial and regional institutions as well as local bodies.

Massimiliano Grimaldi, during his professional experience carried out at the Legal Office of the Ministry of Infrastructures and Transport, dealt with the study and examination of legal matters regarding the sector, the elaboration of regulations, the study and examination of EU directives on inland navigation as well as preparation of the related transposition measures. As a result of his high level of competence and extensive experience gained in the sector, RAM Logistica, Infrastrutture e Trasporti S.pa., in-house company of the Ministry of Infrastructures and Transport with capital wholly held by the Ministry of Economy and Finance, gave Massimiliano Grimaldi the job of carrying out a specific study on the EU legislation regarding the harmonised services of river information on inland waterways of the EU (RIS) and to draw up the draft regulation for the transposition of directive 2005/44/CE.

Massimiliano Grimaldi is author of books and many articles and he is a member of the Inland Transport Committee – Working Party on Inland Water Transport set up within the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) based in Geneva. He is also a member of the Legal Committee of the International Association for the representation of the mutual interests of the inland shipping and the insurance and for keeping the register of inland vessels in Europe (IVR) based in Rotterdam.

Furthermore, Massimiliano Grimaldi founded and is president of the Italian Association of Inland Navigation Law (AIDNI) – www.aidni.it -, made up of lawyers, accountants, shipping companies and public authorities.

Francesca D’Orsi is vice president of the managing committee, Marcello Barbieri is the treasurer and secretary.

Mandates entrusted to the firm include the advice and assistance in construction, sales and rental and hiring operations of ships of inland navigation, advice and assistance in the procedures for the change of flag, advice and assistance in the competition procedures for the entrustment of the local public transport service, advice and assistance for the issuing of authorisations and licenses to carry out non-scheduled public transport services (taxi services; hiring service with driver) of vessels, advice and assistance regarding transport of dangerous goods via inland waterways and tidal waters.

The firm’s clientele is made up of shipbuilders, companies that own goods, shipping companies, logistics companies, contractors of the local public transport service in inland waters, companies that carry out non-scheduled public transport service of passengers via ship, ministerial and regional institutions, provinces, communes, reclamation consortiums and trade associations.