Maritime transport in step with the times: economics and challenges for the future. Focus on the Italian situation and case study on the Grimaldi Group

Maritime transport has always played a key role in the development of the global economy. Nowadays, it is the most widely used method of freight transport in the world, accounting for about 80 percent of the total volume transported globally. Cost-effectiveness coupled with speed of service are just some of the features that make this method of transportation so in demand. In fact, among the various facets, we also find its eco-friendliness: especially when placed within an intermodal context, maritime transport can be a viable alternative to road transport, which conversely involves large emissions of harmful substances into the environment, in addition to traffic congestion. This paper aims to examine the importance of maritime transport for the development of the global economy, analyzing its strengths and its difficulties in keeping up with the historical period in which we live. More specifically, the first chapter will introduce this multifaceted world and then examine how constant changes in geopolitics and current challenges have affected the evolution of maritime transport. The second chapter, on the other hand, will focus on the fundamental issue of sustainability. As the most widely used means of freight transportation, its efforts must be successful in researching and developing a service that is less harmful to the environment and pursues sustainable development goals in the economic, social, and environmental spheres. Intermodal transport and short-sea shipping (SSS) will then be given great importance as promoters of the quest for a future without harmful emissions. The third chapter will focus on the Mediterranean and, more specifically, on Italy as a leader in the Short Sea Shipping sector due to its strategic position within the territory. Finally, in the last chapter, we will address the case study of Grimaldi, a multinational group born in Italy and then developed to expand in the Mediterranean and beyond. After a general introduction of the nautical company, we analyze important aspects of its expansion policy, its commitment to reducing environmental impact, and its plans for the future. This paper was based on research of articles obtained from scholarly, business, and industry journals, published books, and interviews.