Italian union deplores loss of shipping name
Not just a rebranding exercise says Federmar, accusing Evergreen of reducing proud company to branch office status
 

Italian maritime union Federmar has reacted with strong concern regarding the recent announcement by Evergreen that all of its world brands will come under the name Evergreen Lines.

This move includes the Italian company Italia Marittima SpA, which was formerly the famous Lloyd Triestino up until a year ago.

Evergreen had stressed that although customers would see a change, the companies concerned, including London's Hatsu Marine Ltd, would remain as autonomous companies within the Evergreen Group.

The Italian union disputes this and called the announcement 'spin'. They say they are concerned that Italy's maritime traditions are being diluted by the move and say that in effect a once proud Italian concern is now no more than a branch office of Taiwan.

They said in a statement to the company that the new arrangements did not take into account the specific structures of a shipping company with regards to local and European laws. They also expressed concerns at the Taiwan's firms commitment to their employees in Italy.