ECR Italian MEP Susy De Martini has expressed her condolences to the families of the people of Genoa who have lost their lives after a container ship crashed into the port tower, causing it to fall.

ECR Italian MEP Susy De Martini has expressed her condolences to the families of the people of Genoa who have lost their lives after a container ship crashed into the port tower, causing it to fall.

Mrs De Martini has said that there needs to be a discussion in the European Parliament to ensure that Harbourmasters are appointed on the basis of their skills, rather than other non-relevant criteria such as their links to senior political figures of the region.

She said:

“I send my condolences to the families of those killed in this tragedy.

“No major causes for the tragedy have been detected until now. Clearly something went tragically wrong and we need to get to the bottom of what caused this. However, in the meantime we also need to ensure that those managing ports in the EU – major economic hubs – are suitably qualified and not political appointees.

“I will seek to raise this matter in the European Parliament.”