RINA Opens a UK Office

Registro Italiano Navale (RINA), the globally recognised classification society, is to expand its operations to include a new ‘plan approval and technical office’ in the UK which will cater for the growing demand for superyachts in the UK and the surrounding northern European regions. Currently based in RINA’s existing Portsmouth office, the team is soon to move to Southampton.

RINA’s yachting business manager, Paolo Moretti, said the need for a dedicated UK office was due to the growth of UK yacht builders, such as Princess and Sunseeker, which had seen a rise in demand or advice, consultancy, pre-assessment and direct liaison.

In particular, the office will be able to help designers and yards cope with the requirements of the new MCA Passenger Yacht Code the upcoming requirements of ILO MLC2006. The Passenger Yacht is the new safety code published by the Red Ensign Group to certify yachts in commercial use carrying 13 to 36 passengers. It mainly affects the design and operation of yachts over 80-metres in length by introducing requirements derived from the SOLAS passenger ship Convention. These new requirements introduce stricter limits on fire protection, stability and life saving, which impact on the design of this category of yachts.

For more information visit www.rina.org