At a 26 November meeting of the Propeller Club Port of Leghorn, maritime executives and law-enforcement officials debated the impact of the EU’s new biometric Entry/Exit System (EES) on Italian seaports. The digital register—live at airports since October—will become mandatory at all external maritime borders by April 2026, replacing passport stamps with facial and fingerprint scans.
Prefect Giancarlo Dionisi told attendees that the system is essential to track ‘overstayers’ who enter legally but remain beyond the 90/180-day Schengen allowance. Police Chief Agnese Di Napoli explained that although Livorno currently handles little direct non-Schengen traffic, the port must prepare for ferry and cruise passengers once coverage widens.
![Livorno port stakeholders warn EU Entry/Exit System could bottleneck maritime borders]()
Terminal operators voiced concern that scanning hundreds of car passengers arriving simultaneously from North-Africa ferries could stretch turnaround times from 30 seconds per vehicle to up to three minutes. Industry group Assiterminal urged the government to fund mobile kiosks and seek exemptions for ‘circular cruises’ that call only at EU ports.
Legal advisor Luca Brandimarte highlighted opportunities: phased-in implementation allows pilot corridors, and a five-year parallel period with manual stamping gives ports breathing room. However, without investment, the EES risks becoming a trade barrier for Italy’s €13-billion ro-ro sector.
Global mobility managers should expect longer disembarkation times for non-EU assignees arriving by ferry from Tunisia, Albania or Greece once the system goes live. Employers may need to schedule earlier sailings or switch to air routes until ports optimise workflows.
Prefect Giancarlo Dionisi told attendees that the system is essential to track ‘overstayers’ who enter legally but remain beyond the 90/180-day Schengen allowance. Police Chief Agnese Di Napoli explained that although Livorno currently handles little direct non-Schengen traffic, the port must prepare for ferry and cruise passengers once coverage widens.
Terminal operators voiced concern that scanning hundreds of car passengers arriving simultaneously from North-Africa ferries could stretch turnaround times from 30 seconds per vehicle to up to three minutes. Industry group Assiterminal urged the government to fund mobile kiosks and seek exemptions for ‘circular cruises’ that call only at EU ports.
Legal advisor Luca Brandimarte highlighted opportunities: phased-in implementation allows pilot corridors, and a five-year parallel period with manual stamping gives ports breathing room. However, without investment, the EES risks becoming a trade barrier for Italy’s €13-billion ro-ro sector.
Global mobility managers should expect longer disembarkation times for non-EU assignees arriving by ferry from Tunisia, Albania or Greece once the system goes live. Employers may need to schedule earlier sailings or switch to air routes until ports optimise workflows.
