Commandantof the Italian Coast Guard
Vice Admiral Raimondo POLLASTRINI was born in Milan on 17th June 1945. He joined the Coast Guard, first as a Reserve Officer and then as a Commissioned Officer and served in various Coast Guard Offices such as Genoa, Trieste, Savona, Viareggio and Livorno.
In 1985, at the Naval Academy of Livorno, Admiral Pollastrini started teaching Law of Navigation and International Maritime Law in numerous courses attended mostly by graduates in Law, Political Sciences and Economics.
From 1986 to 1989 he was Director of the Harbour Workers' Office in Livorno (also during the temporary Commissioning of the Harbour Workers' Company).
Between 1989 and 1991 Admiral Pollastrini was responsible for and coordinated the Department of Judicial Science at the Naval War Institute in Livorno which, for years, has been training Senior Officers to become future managers of the Navy.
From 1991 to 1995 he held the post of Vice Commander of the Livorno Coast Guard Office and from 1994 until May 1995 he was assistant Commissioner to the new Livorno Port Authority.
From 3rd to 15th June 1990 in Sanremo, he attended the 30th Course on the Law of Armed Conflicts (in French).
Admiral Pollastrini represented Italy at the 3rd "Meeting of Madrid Plan of Action" on the Law of Armed Conflicts which was held in Bergen in September 1991 and also attended the 6th meeting on the same subject in Livorno in June 1994.
On two different occasions, in 1997 and 1998, he was one of the experts of the Italian Delegation in Tirana as a judicial consultant for the preparation of the Albanian Navigation Code and for the preparation of a bill concerning the establishment of the Albanian Coast Guard.
For two years, Admiral Pollastrini was responsible for the Bulletin of the Naval War Institute, Military Sciences and subjects of general culture of the Navy, giving his contribution with articles on International Maritime Law.
During his service at the Naval Academy and at the Naval War Institute, he wrote the following booklets, which are currently used as textbooks:
- Lessons on Administrative Maritime Law. The Administrative System of the Merchant Marine in ports and the administrative organization of personnel in maritime navigation;
- Outline of International Law and notes on International Maritime Law;
- The Head of a State Office and the responsibilities of a government official;
- The Head of a Military Organization and the Judicial Military Police activities.
He has also written the following articles for the magazine of the Naval War Institute:
- Pollution in the Persian Gulf: an international crime;
- The nationality of ships in International Humanitarian Law applicable to armed conflicts at sea.
One of his interventions at the Propeller Club in Genoa on Refuge Ports was published in the magazine "Il Diritto Marittimo". One of his articles entitled: "The Flags of Convenience as a threat to Security" was also published in the volume "Maritime Security: a common commitment" published by the Maritime Foundation "Ammiraglio Michelagnoli".
He is the author of an article on Port State Control which was published in the magazine "Il Diritto Marittimo " - issue IV 2005.
From 1995 to 1999 Admiral Pollastrini held the post of Head of the Coordination Office of the Coast Guard Headquarters in Rome and was also Assistant to the Commandant.
In 2000 he attended the Institute of Advanced Studies of the Defence.
Admiral POLLASTRINI, Rear Admiral (LH) since 01/01/1999 and promoted Rear Admiral (UH) on 01/01/2003, on 1st August 2000 became Maritime Director of Liguria and Commander of the Genoa Coast Guard Office. From 30 October 2004 to 4th March 2007 he held the post of Head of the 1st Department (Regulations and employment of personnel) of the Coast Guard Headquarters in Rome.
From 5th March to 3rd July 2007, Admiral Pollastrini held the post of Vice Commandant of the Italian Coast Guard.
Teaching positions:
- at the University of Genoa - Faculty of Law - teaching Law of Navigation (Academic year 2004/2005);
- at the University of Naples for the Master in Political Economics and Law of the Sea (Academic year 2005/2006);
- at the University of Cassino for the course on Economics and Management of Transportation (Academic year 2006/2007);
- at the University of Tor Vergata (Rome) for a course on "International Law of the Sea" - as integration of the international law course - Faculty of Law (Academic year 2006/2007).
Admiral Pollastrini has a degree in Italian Literature (Florence University) and in Law (Genoa University) with a thesis on Law of Navigation entitled "Protection of the crew and the responsibility of maritime ship agents".
He has been decorated with the following honors:
- Commander of the Order of Merit for the Italian Republic;
- Golden Medal on the environment's Honour;
- Mauriziana Medal for fifty years of military career;
- Silver Medal for length of Command;
- Golden cross with star for length of military service (40 years);
- Commemorative cross for humanitarian activity in Albania;
- Knight of the Order of Saint Gregory Magno;
- Commander of the Order of Saint Agatha of the Republic of San Marino.
- Commander of the Saint George Holy Military Order of Constantine.
On 20th June 2008 he was nominated Honorary Member of the Italian Association of Maritime Law.
On 11th July 2008 the Foundation "Centro Internazionale Radio Medico" (CIRM) granted him the Certificate of Merit.
On 4th July 2007 Admiral Pollastrini became Commandant of the Italian Coast Guard.
