RINA group adds engineering expertise

D’Appolonia, the independent engineering consulting company of RINA Group, headquartered in Italy, has strengthened its expertise in the marine offshore oil and gas sector by acquiring a majority stake in Fano-based SeaTech Srl.

 

SeaTech provides analysis and design services, manages projects for offshore pipelines, subsea systems and structures and met-ocean monitoring systems, and also provides engineering supervision services on site.

 

Roberto Carpaneto, CEO, D’Appolonia, says, “Having SeaTech as part of the group helps us to consolidate our engineering expertise in the oil & gas sector, especially in the growth area of subsea systems and deep-water exploration."

 

SeaTech provides specialised engineering services to main contractors and major engineering companies operating in the oil and gas industry.  Founded in 2000, today SeaTech has a turnover of Euro 2.8m. SeaTech will be 68 per cent owned by D’Appolonia with the remaining shares held by the founders. Examples of its work include: in 2000 SeaTech’s specialists worked for Saipem in the Blues Stream project that at the time held the record for installation water depth (2150 m), and was the first pipeline protected by polypropylene anticorrosion coating. In 2003 SeaTech performed its first design of subsea structures (FLETs and PLETs) on behalf of Saibos, for the Kizomba B project. From 2004 to 2012, SeaTech was involved in the Kashagan project that was at that time the largest reservoir discovered in the world and had particular technical peculiarities due to the hostile environment, both onshore and offshore. In 2013 SeaTech carried out the FEED of Bahr Essalam phase 2 project for Tecnomare. In 2015 Seatech delivered to Edison the met-marine and structural monitoring system for the Vega platform.

 

www.seatech.it/

 

D’Appolonia S.p.A provides integrated engineering services to the public and private markets in the areas of the environment, oil and gas, infrastructure and transport, electronics and telecommunications. D’Appolonia is part of the RINA Group, a leading international classification, verification and certification provider.

www.dappolonia.it

 

RINA is a multi-national group which delivers verification, certification, conformity assessment, marine classification, environmental enhancement, product testing, site and vendor supervision, training and engineering consultancy across a wide range of industries and services. RINA operates through a network of companies covering Marine, Energy, Infrastructures & Construction, Transport & Logistics, Food & Agriculture, Environment & Sustainability, Finance & Public Institutions and Business Governance. With a turnover of over 330 million Euros in 2014, over 2,750 employees, and 163 offices in 60 countries worldwide, RINA is recognized as an authoritative member of key international organizations and an important contributor to the development of new legislative standards.      

           
Contacts:

Giulia Faravelli

Head of Media & Internal Communication RINA

+39 010 5385505

giulia.faravelli@rina.org

 

Victoria Silvestri

Media Relations RINA

+39 010 5385555

victoria.silvestri@rina.org

 

RINA launches open-sea crane standards

Italy-based classification society RINA has launched new standards for cranes which will be used for transhipment of bulk cargoes at sea and has completely revised and rebased its rules for offshore cranes used in offshore construction, service and demolition.

Under the new rules for lifting appliances, RINA has split the requirements for specific crane types (ship, offshore and transhipping) into free-standing sections to make the rules more user-friendly.

The new RINA rules for transhipment cranes provide for a specific notation, CARGO HANDLING, which takes into account both static and dynamic loads on transhipment cranes used on vessels transhipping bulk cargoes in open waters, and also details how these are related to structural requirements for the vessel and crane and to the operating envelope.

RINA’s revised rules for offshore cranes have been based on European Standard EN 13852, which takes a different and more modern approach to commonly used offshore crane standards. This allows for a more structured approach to offshore crane certification.

Dino Cervetto, Director of Technical Services, RINA Services, says, “There is a gap in the market for standards for transhipment cranes. RINA’s new rules contain an operational chart which will allow operators of floating transhipment terminals to widen the weather window in which they can work. It also takes into account the specific wave height and orientation of the terminal. Cranes certified under this new notation will be able to operate safely for longer and give more operational time to terminal operators without fear of breakdowns or overload conditions.

“RINA believes that there is a need in the offshore industry for a clear standard for floating cranes and cranes built onto OSVs which is based on European requirements.”

The first CARGO HANDLING notation has been assigned to the floating crane transhipment unit FC ASIA BELLA, built by China’s Chengxi Shipyard for the Indonesian owner Pt. Pelayaran Mitra Kaltim Samudera.

For a copy of the new rules, email chris@merlinco.com


RINA Services is the RINA group company which delivers ship classification, and testing, inspection and certification services. RINA is a multi-national group which delivers verification, certification, conformity assessment, marine classification, environmental enhancement, product testing, site and vendor supervision, training and engineering consultancy across a wide range of industries and services. RINA operates through a network of companies covering Marine, Energy, Infrastructures & Construction, Transport & Logistics, Food & Agriculture, Environment & Sustainability, Finance & Public Institutions and Business Governance. With a turnover of over 330 million Euros in 2014, over 2,750 employees, and 163 offices in 60 countries worldwide, RINA is recognized as an authoritative member of key international organizations and an important contributor to the development of new legislative standards. www.rina.org

Contacts:
Giulia Faravelli
Media Relations Manager RINA
+39 010 5385505
giulia.faravelli@rina.org

Victoria Silvestri
Media Relations RINA
+39 010 5385555
victoria.silvestri@rina.org

RINA to certify major Caspian port and logistics hub development

RINA Services has been awarded a contract to provide design review and third party certification services for a major port and logistics hub development at Turkmenbashi, on the Caspian Sea coast of Turkmenistan.

The $1.5bn Turkmenbashi International Port is being built by one of the leading Turkish construction companies, Gap Insaat Yatırım ve Dış Ticaret A.Ş. The port complex is due for completion in 2017 and will include four terminals, road and rail links, and a ship-repair yard. Freight throughput is expected to reach 25 million tonnes by 2020.

Michele Francioni, CEO, RINA Services, says, “RINA has been chosen for the project design review and construction monitoring and certification because we can bring together maritime, construction, infrastructure and project-management skills. RINA has a strong footprint in Turkmenistan, which is a growing and important trading nation in a key geo-strategic location. All parties respect our independence. We will provide our services to ensure the project is delivered on specification, making it a powerful economic generator in the Caspian region and a key link in the Silk Route.”

A major pipeline is already being built to link Turkmenistan’s Galkynysh gas field, the world's second-largest natural gas deposit, to Turkmenbashi. The port complex will export oil and gas products and textiles and facilitate trade between Europe and the Middle East and Asia.
Says Francioni, “RINA’s experience with and focus on the environment is a key factor. The State Service of Maritime and River Transportation of Turkmenistan intends that the new port will be built from the outset as part of a multi-modal network linking road, rail and water transportation in an environmentally-friendly way. We know about ports, we know how to manage environmental issues, we know Turkmenistan, we understand what they want and we have good experience of working with Turkish construction companies on major infrastructure projects.”

RINA Services S.p.A. is the RINA group company active in classification, certification, inspection and testing services. RINA is a multi-national group which delivers verification, certification, conformity assessment, marine classification, environmental enhancement, product testing, site and vendor supervision, training and engineering consultancy across a wide range of industries and services. RINA operates through a network of companies covering Marine, Energy, Infrastructures & Construction, Transport & Logistics, Food & Agriculture, Environment & Sustainability, Finance & Public Institutions and Business Governance. With a turnover of over 294 million Euros in 2013, over 2,500 employees, and 163 offices in 57 countries worldwide, RINA is recognized as an authoritative member of key international organizations and an important contributor to the development of new legislative standards. www.rina.org

For more information:
Giulia Faravelli
Media Relations Manager RINA
+39 010 5385505
giulia.faravelli@rina.org

Victoria Silvestri
Media Relations RINA
+39 010 5385555
victoria.silvestri@rina.org

RINA awards Best Management Scheme certification to MSC Cruises

International classification society RINA has certified MSC Cruises under its Best Management Scheme. The innovative goal-based scheme recognizes management excellence, setting standards which go beyond the requirements of statutory rules and codes such as ISM (International Safety Management), ISPS (International Ship and Port Facility Security) and MLC 2006 (Maritime Labour Convention).

The certification covers all aspects of managing a cruise line company with particular attention to safety operations and the training required to deal correctly with emergency situations.

MSC Cruises was assessed using a points-based system across all management areas and obtained the highest possible scores in the fields of safety, management and sustainability.

The objective of the scheme was to certify excellence in three specific areas. With regard to protection of the environment, particular attention was paid to sustainability and energy-saving initiatives. Human resources, meanwhile, encompassed recruitment and training of staff both at sea and ashore, good management, the health and safety of personnel and passengers, and food and service for guests. The technical issues covered included operational and technical competence, energy efficiency, and emergency response. Anti-piracy measures were also evaluated.

The awarding of the Best Management Scheme certification demonstrates that MSC Cruises was audited according to a scope that encompasses more than just the direct technical management of cruise ships. The scheme takes into account a broader and deeper range of issues relevant to safe and efficient operation, including consumables, logistics, services, safety and equipment maintenance. The key role of people in the safe management of a complex business like a cruise line is fully recognized by this certification.

RINA Services S.p.A. is the RINA group company active in classification, certification, inspection and testing services. RINA is a multi-national group which delivers verification, certification, conformity assessment, marine classification, environmental enhancement, product testing, site and vendor supervision, training and engineering consultancy across a wide range of industries and services. RINA operates through a network of companies covering Marine, Energy, Infrastructures & Construction, Transport & Logistics, Food & Agriculture, Environment & Sustainability, Finance & Public Institutions and Business Governance. With a turnover of over 295 million Euros in 2013, over 2,500 employees, and 630 offices in 57 countries worldwide, RINA is recognized as an authoritative member of key international organizations and an important contributor to the development of new legislative standards. www.rina.org


MSC Cruises is the market leading cruise company in the Mediterranean, South Africa and Brazil and operates across the globe. MSC Cruises sails throughout the year in the Mediterranean and in the Caribbean and offers a wide range of seasonal itineraries in Northern Europe, the Atlantic Ocean, the French Antilles, South America, Southern Africa, as well as Abu Dhabi and the Emirates. Its modern fleet comprises twelve ships: Fantasia-class MSC Preziosa, MSC Divina, MSC Splendida and MSC Fantasia; Musica-class MSC Magnifica, MSC Poesia, MSC Orchestra, and MSC Musica; Lirica-class MSC Sinfonia, MSC Armonia, MSC Opera and MSC Lirica. MSC Cruises is the only company in the world to receive the "7 Golden Pearls" award from the Bureau Veritas in recognition of its high level of quality management and environmental responsibility. MSC has also achieved ISO 9001 and ISO 22000 certification for the quality and food safety of all aspects of its catering, both on shore and on board. MSC Cruises believes that global leadership brings increased responsibility towards the physical and human environments in which it operates. As such, a long term partnership with UNICEF was undertaken in 2009 to support educational programmes for children in Brazil, for which almost three million euros were raised. The partnership was renewed early 2014, this time to support UNICEF’s efforts to tackle famine and malnutrition in developing countries and in emergency situations.

For more information:
Giulia Faravelli
Media Relations Manager RINA
+39 010 5385505
giulia.faravelli@rina.org


Susanna Gorni
Media Relations RINA
+39 010 5385555
susanna.gorni@rina.org

INTESA SANPAOLO AND VEI CAPITAL TAKE A STAKE IN RINA SPA

Intesa Sanpaolo – through the Merchant Banking Management of its Corporate and Investment Banking Division – and VEI Capital - investment company of Palladio Finanziaria in the Private Equity Mid-Cap segment – have agreed to buy a stake in RINA S.p.A., parent company of the RINA Group, Italy’s leading E-TIC (Engineering, Testing, Inspection, Certification) service provider.

The initial 25 million euros investment by Intesa Sanpaolo and VEI Capital, which will be underwritten by and shared equally between the two partners, may be increased to a possible 100 million euros on the strength of subsequent capital increases and backing for acquisitions.

The financial resources and expertise of the new partners is designed to support and accelerate the growth and internationalization process which RINA has initiated in recent years. VEI Capital and Intesa Sanpaolo are undertaking this investment project to help strengthen RINA’s position as a key world-class player in certification and consulting engineering, with a view to a possible stock exchange listing in the medium-term.

Today, RINA is a multinational group specialized in classification, certification, testing, inspection, training and consulting engineering services in shipping, energy, transport and infrastructure, environment and innovation.

RINA operates through companies dedicated to its specialist sectors. It has a network of 163 offices in 57 countries and over 2,500 employees, whose commitment has contributed to achieving a turnover which, with the latest acquisitions, exceeds 320 million euros.

“As a financial partner, Intesa Sanpaolo intends to back the company to accelerate the completion of its evolution process that is already under way”, - stated Marco Cerrina Feroni, head of Intesa Sanpaolo Merchant Banking Management. - “Indeed, the investment represents an opportunity to take a stake in an historical company of Italian heritage, very well-managed and with excellent growth opportunities, completing a path of major strategic and managerial change”.

“The operation” – said Sergio Ravagli, Managing Partner of Palladio Finanziaria – “comes within the context of ‘expansion capital’ investment in companies with a high development potential, as recently occurred with inflow into the capital of the Fila group. The backing of financial partners in respect of a sound and well-prepared management will enable the RINA Group to take up new growth opportunities in Italy and abroad”.

"The decision of two prestigious financial groups such as Intesa Sanpaolo and VEI Capital to invest in our company gives us immense satisfaction," - confirmed Ugo Salerno RINA S.p.A. President and CEO - "Their stake in our company offers us additional and decisive development opportunities in terms of both growth and also acquisitions in order to develop a leading national organisation to compete with key international players.”


Contacts:
RINA S.p.a.
Media Relations Corporate
Tel. +39 010 5385 - 643 – 505 – 555
staff.communications@rina.org


Intesa Sanpaolo
Media Corporate & Investment Banking and International Media
Tel. +39 02 8796 3531- 2489
stampa@intesasanpaolo.com


VEI Capital - Gruppo Palladio
Studio Noris Morano
Tel: +39 02 76004736.45
Mob: +39 335 6964585
Fax: +39 02 76004793
norismorano@studionorismorano.com

RINA launches cruise ship hotel energy management tool

International classification society RINA has launched InfoSHIP EM, a real time tool for monitoring and optimising the hotel power demand on cruise ships. It is expected to produce hotel load energy savings in the order of over 10 per cent, thus generating significant annual cash savings in fuel costs for a typical large modern cruise ship.

Paolo Moretti, head of the marine business line, RINA Services, says, “Around half the energy used by a modern cruise ship is for the hotel services. So if we can bear down on that we can produce substantial cost savings for cruise operators. InfoSHIP Energy Management is a tool which continuously monitors all the energy users in the hotel services and compares actual use with target values. A simple traffic-light graphic display alerts the ship’s staff to higher than target energy use, allowing them to take remedial measures such as load shedding or load shifting.”

InfoSHIP EM is part of the InfoSHIP Energy Governance suite developed by RINA and software house IB Software & Consulting. It collects live power consumption data from the hotel services, AC systems, accommodation and lighting systems and galley and laundry services. Target values are set by calculation at the design or installation stage and then continuously updated by operational feedback and trend analysis. Target values are optimised according to the season and area of operation, the operational mode, either in port or at sea and the time of day.

Says Moretti, “This system will pay for itself in under a year and is simple to install. What it does is focus the engineers and technical department on the actual electrical power demand of hotel services. It allows them to make adjustments to operations or pre-set temperatures for the air con, for example. InfoSHIP EM gives the cruise ship operators the information they need to make sensible energy saving decisions, such as getting laundry done outside peak time, or changing air-conditioning patterns. It also provides real data to inform decisions on retrofit or updates to on-board equipment.”

Maurizio Ricci, IB Chairman and CEO, says, “This addition to the InfoSHIP Energy Governance suite is an example of how well targeted and researched software can make a real difference to operators. Ease of use and reliability in operation are two factors we design into our software so that users get real results as their crews and staff enjoy using the systems.”

For a graphic to illustrate InfoSHIP EM click on http://bit.ly/1boc8nG or email john@merlinco.com


VISIT RINA at Cruise Shipping Miami Stand No: 1760-6 Italian Pavillion

RINA Services S.p.A. is the RINA company active in classification, certification, inspection and testing services. RINA is a multinational group that provides services for verification, certification, conformity assessment, marine classification, environmental development, product testing, supervision and qualification of suppliers, engineering consultancy and training across a broad range of industries and services. Rina operates through a network of companies dedicated to different sectors: Shipping, Energy, Infrastructure and Construction, Logistics and Transport, Environment and Quality, Agribusiness and Health, Finance and Public Institutions, Business Governance. With approximately 280 million euros of assets in 2012, over 2200 resources, 150 offices in 53 countries around the world, the Group is now able to meet the needs of its clients and at the same time is recognized as authoritative interlocutor. www.rina.org

IB is a software-house based in Rapallo, Italy. The company has been highly committed to the world of Asset Management since 1983 and is today a market leader in the supply of software systems for this specific market. In addition to InfoSHIP, IB designs, deploys and implements its systems for facilities, maintenance, health and environmental management under the titles of InfoPMS, InfoGREEN, InfoHEALTH and InfoFACILITY. IB provides its systems and services for improving maintenance and operations with a special focus on technologies, methodologies, re-engineering of processes and human resources expertise. www.gruppo-ib.com


For more information:

Susanna Gorni
Media Relations RINA Group
+39 010 5385555
susanna.gorni@rina.org

RINA acquires leading materials technology centre CSM

Growing Italian engineering, testing, inspection, certification and ship classification group RINA has bought the major shareholding in Italy’s leading centre for innovation in materials technology, CSM. The move strengthens RINA’s expertise in specialised steel processes and products, especially for the energy sector, and in innovative waste to energy conversion technologies.

RINA CEO Ugo Salerno says, “Bringing CSM into RINA is part of our long-term growth strategy of developing and widening our specialist competence. CSM’s very highly skilled engineers and scientists bring skill sets which complement ours and will enable us to grow faster in developing countries and in the offshore energy business, two areas of major opportunity for RINA.”
CSM CEO Mauro Pontremoli says, “Joining RINA gives us the financial platform and market outreach we need to deliver our skills and knowledge globally. We already earn 45 per cent of our revenues outside Italy and there is huge demand for advanced materials knowledge in the developing world, especially in steel and metal alloys processes and products. Working with RINA we can capitalise on our knowledge base, our over 800 patents and our innovative processes such as in waste-to-energy and in pipeline development.”

CSM has a turnover of around Euro 30 million and employs around 300 people in centres across Italy. Its acquisition will boost RINA’s projected 2014 turnover to around Euro 330 million.
RINA is a multinational group that provides services for verification, certification, conformity assessment, marine classification, environmental development, product testing, supervision and qualification of suppliers, engineering consultancy and training across a broad range of industries and services. RINA operates through a network of companies dedicated to different sectors: Shipping, Energy, Infrastructure and Construction, Logistics and Transport, Environment and Quality, Agribusiness and Health, Finance and Public Institutions, Business Governance. With a turnover over 280 million euros in 2012, over 2,200 staff, and 150 offices in 53 countries around the world, the group is able to meet the needs of its clients and at the same time is recognized as authoritative participant in the main international organizations developing new regulatory standards. www.rina.org

CSM was founded in 1963 by Italy's major steel manufacturers and end-users with the mission to develop steel technologies and applications. Over time CSM widened the range of its technological interests and skills to cover new capabilities related to new materials, products and manufacturing technologies in order to become a reference research centre for steel and high tech industry both at national and European level. Today, Centro Sviluppo Materiali is a prominent enterprise among European top materials R&D centres, co-operating with Italian and international industries, universities and research agencies and playing a recognised role as a national and international reference-point for innovation on materials. www.c-s-m.it

For more information:

Susanna Gorni
Media Relations RINA Group
Ph. +39 010 5385555
Mail. susanna.gorni@rina.org

Elisabetta Amici
External Relations CSM
Ph. +39 06 5055780
Mail. E.amici@c-s-m.it

RINA launches MaRINA Excellence yacht marina quality certification scheme

Leading international certification company RINA Services has launched a new certification scheme for yacht marinas. The MaRINA Excellence scheme focuses on the quality of the marina, sustainability and risk prevention.

Marinas and dedicated yacht harbours are a key part of the tourist infrastructure. RINA has always placed great importance on environmental and sustainability issues. In the field of marinas it provides services that are indispensable for reducing the environmental impact of facilities.

As a yacht marina is the place that welcomes the yachtsman and the contact point with the surrounding territory, particular care and attention are required to succeed in making it functional. At the same time it must be respectful of the environment and tourist resources so as to preserve its particular attraction.

MaRINA Excellence certification will be issued after an audit by specialised auditors who will score the marina on a scale from 1 to 5. The results will be subject to validation by a committee, appropriately established and dedicated to the issuing of the MaRINA Excellence certificate.

The overall judgement for the assigning of the MaRINA Excellence certification is based on the average of the evaluation of three macro-areas:

Port services: evaluation of the quality level and diversification of the relative services of a marina, such as berthing facilities, fuel supply, availability of accommodation for permanent yachtsmen and those in transit, provisioning, boat storage and repair yards.

Tourist services: evaluation of the tourism-related opportunities that the marina and the immediately surrounding area can offer. In this context, the marina is not considered as a stand-alone facility but as a port of access to the territory. RINA will verify the marina’s capacity to put its clients in contact with hotels and restaurants, sports and leisure facilities, archaeological sites and natural parks.

Sustainability: audit on the sustainable approach of the activities performed by the marina, and the commitment to environmental protection and safety.

The evaluation criteria are based on a points system assigned to various items on the checklist which are weighted in terms of criticality. A set of regulations guarantees objectivity in judgement in order to make the assigning of the final score absolutely independent and transparent.

The marina may publicise the results of the audit so as to give visibility to the quality level of the marina, enabling the service user to choose their port on the basis of objective data.

With a history dating back to 1861, RINA Group is a global provider of classification, certification, testing, inspection and training services to assist clients in a wide range of business sectors such as Marine, Energy, Transport & Infrastructures, Business Assurance, Environment and Innovation. RINA S.p.A. is the Group’s holding company which provides to the operating companies of the Group staff services such as administration and finance, HR, system management and communication, The main activities within the RINA Group are delivered by independent operating companies, having their own governance and organization aimed at complying with the requirements and standards applicable to each service. www.rina.org


For more information:

Susanna Gorni
Media Relations
Ph. +39 010 5385555
susanna.gorni@rina.org


Claudia Filippone
Head of Media Relations
Ph. +39 010 5385643
claudia.filippone@rina.org


Antonella Cotta Ramusino
Marketing & Communication
Ph. +39 010 0983090
acr@fastwebnet.it

Wood Forever Pact - new criteria for RINA Green Plus Yacht

A Monaco yacht show dedicated to the Green philosophy through numerous initiatives aimed at boosting environmental awareness in the world of pleasure craft.

On Saturday 28 September, aboard the 55-metre Ocean Paradise built by Benetti shipyards, an event was held which left a notable green footprint on the decks of the super yachts: leading classification company RINA Services and the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation joined forces to promote the sustainable use of wood in the yachting industry.

Signed by Ugo Salerno, RINA Group CEO and Chairman, and by the CEO and vice-president of the Foundation, Bernard Fautrier, in the presence of Prince Albert II of Monaco, in addition to other joint initiatives for increasing global awareness on the part of yachting in protecting the environment, the agreement foresees the incorporation of the Wood Forever Pact into the evaluation criteria for assigning the now-famous environmental notation Green Plus RINA. Present at the event were the President of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayez, the Minister for Tourism of Mauritius, Karl Mootosamy, and the Italian Ambassador in Monte Carlo, Antonio Morabito, as well as Benetti CEO Vincenzo Poerio and the President of the Azimut Benetti Group, Paolo Vitelli.

Yacht builders who sign up to the pact agree to put in place a responsible purchasing policy for wood used in yacht construction and so contribute to combating deforestation and improving living conditions for local communities. RINA recognises that contribution to sustainability and environmental mitigation in its assessment of the Green Plus index of vessels built by members of the Wood Forever Pact.

RINA’s Green Plus Yacht is a voluntary Class Notation based on an environmental performance index which covers all aspects of the vessel’s impact on the environment, including carbon emissions. The Class Notation is granted to vessels which make a significant investment in design solutions, onboard equipment, and operational procedures which contribute to lowering emissions beyond the minimum levels required by international regulation on environmental protection.

In June 2006, HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco decided to set up his Foundation in order to address the alarming threats hanging over our planet’s environment. The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation works for the protection of the environment and the promotion of sustainable development. The Foundation supports initiatives conducted by public and private organisations within the fields of research, technological innovation and activities to raise awareness of the social issues at stake. It funds projects in three main geographical regions: the Mediterranean Basin, the Polar Regions and the Least Developed Countries. The Foundation’s efforts focus on three main sectors: Climate change and renewable energies, biodiversity, and integrated and sustainable water management together with the fight against desertification.

To find out more: www.fpa2.com / www.facebook.com/FondationPrinceAlbertIIdeMonaco

With a history dating back to 1861, RINA Group is a global provider of classification, certification, testing, inspection and training services to assist clients in a wide range of business sectors such as Marine, Energy, Transport & Infrastructures, Business Assurance, Environment and Innovation. RINA S.p.A. is the Group’s holding company which provides to the operating companies of the Group staff services such as administration and finance, HR, system management and communication. The main activities within the RINA Group are delivered by independent operating companies, having their own governance and organization aimed at complying with the requirements and standards applicable to each service. www.rina.org



For more information:

Susanna Gorni
Media Relations
Ph. +39 010 5385555
Mail. susanna.gorni@rina.org


Claudia Filippone
Head of Media Relations
Ph. +39 010 5385643
Mail. claudia.filippone@rina.org


Antonella Cotta Ramusino
Marketing & Communication
Ph. +39 010 0983090
Mail. acr@fastwebnet.it

RINA commits to IACS chairmanship

International classification society RINA has committed major resources to support IACS (International Association of Classification Societies) during its year of chairmanship.

Roberto Cazzulo, Chairman of RINA Services SpA, was elected as Chairman of IACS Council at the end of June. He will lead an active team of senior personnel from RINA who will seek to continue the global technical leadership of IACS and to ensure it meets the needs of both the international shipping and shipbuilding industries and also regulators.

Says Cazzulo, “We firmly believe that by collaborating through IACS the leading classification societies of the world help raise safety, environmental and performance standards for the global shipping fleet. To that end RINA is willing to contribute the time and expertise of a serious team. I personally commit myself to driving forward IACS’ priorities this year and to helping to ensure a healthy and continuing dialogue with all stakeholders in our global maritime industry. In this complex global world no class society can go it alone. By working together we achieve much more than we could as the sum of a lot of societies trying to work by themselves.”

In addition to the chairmanship of Roberto Cazzulo, RINA has also committed the following senior staff to IACS:

Michele Francioni is RINA Chief Operating Officer and serves as RINA IACS Council Member.

Laura Scuteri is RINA Manager of Relations with Regulatory Bodies-Marine and Chairman of IACS General Policy Group.

Giovanna Carosi works on RINA’s relations with Regulatory Bodies-Marine, and serves as a member of the IACS General Policy Group.

Paolo Salza, RINA Chief Technical Officer, is the Chairman of the IACS Joint Working Group with the industry on a structured approach for the development of regulations.

Dino Cervetto is RINA Director of Technical Services. He participates in the IACS Steering Group on the Common Structural Rules (CSR) for Oil Tankers and Bulk Carriers.

Claudio Abbate is RINA Manager of Safety Unit and Co-ordinator of the Cruise Ships Centre of Excellence. In IACS he is a Member of the Statutory Panel and he is also the Vice-Chairman of the IMO Fire Protection Sub-Committee

Carlo Aiachini is RINA Manager of Machinery and Automation Unit. He serves as a member of the IACS Machinery Panel.

Gianluca Mantegazza is RINA Manager of Damage Analysis and Risk Assessment Section unit. He is the incoming Chairman of the IACS Survey Panel.

Enrico Gombi is RINA Manager of Calculation Tools. He serves as a member of the IACS Hull Panel.

Mikhael Markogiannis is Manager of the Greek Engineering Centre. He supports the IACS team for the RINA chairmanship and he is the contact point between the IACS Chairman and the Greek Marine Industry.

Claudia Filippone, RINA Manager of Communications, supports the IACS chairman on communication matters.

Cinzia Pica, Intercompany Communication Co-ordinator of RINA Group, supports the press office during RINA IACS chairmanship.

Detailed information on IACS’ strategy and work plan for the forthcoming year can be found at www.iacs.org.uk

 RINA Services S.p.A. is the RINA Group’s company active in ship classification, testing, inspection and certification services. RINA Group is a multi-national group which delivers verification, certification, conformity assessment, ship classification, environmental enhancement, product testing, site and vendor supervision, training and engineering consultancy across a wide range of industries and services. RINA Group operates through a network of companies covering Marine, Energy, Infrastructures & Real Estate, Transport & Logistics, Food & Agriculture, Environment & Sustainability, Finance & Public Institutions and Business Governance. With a turnover of around 280 million Euros in 2012, over 2,100 employees, and 150 offices in 53 countries worldwide, RINA Group is recognized as an authoritative member of key international organizations and an important contributor to the development of new legislative standards.  www.rina.org      

For more information:

Claudia Filippone

Head of Communications

RINA

+39 010 538 5643

Iacs.press@rina.org

RINA and Dubai Drydocks team up

The RINA Group has entered into a framework agreement to supply certification and engineering services to UAE-based Drydocks World - Dubai (LLC). Under an MOU signed in Rome, Italy, on 9 May, Drydocks World will draw on RINA Group's expertise to deliver assistance with project management and ship classification and certification for a number of projects, including floating hotels, mega yachts, special project vessels, underwater units and warships. The MoU was signed in the presence of H.E. Ms. Datin Paduka Halimah Abdullah, Malaysian Ambassador to Rome, Mr Muhammad Al Mansoori, Second Secretary of UAE Embassy in Rome, Mr. Hamad Al Nuaimi, Diplomatic Attaché, Embassy UAE in Rome, Ms. Penprapa, Minister Plenipotentiary, Embassy of Thailand, and other dignitaries.

H.E.Abdul Aziz Bin Nasser Alshamsi, UAE Ambassador in Rome said, “We are so pleased on this important occasion to emphasis the tremendous progression in the bilateral relationship between the UAE and Italy during recent years in all economic and political areas. Bilateral trade has grown by 26 per cent compared to 2011, which makes the UAE Italy’s first and largest trading partner among all the Arabic countries, and the most important strategic partner in the Middle East.

“The ongoing co-operation between Drydocks World and RINA Group for international classification, certification and engineering services enhances the role of the UAE and the Dubai Emirate’s push to be the leader for vessel classification in the Arabic, Middle and Far Eastern regions. RINA Group is recognised as an authoritative member of key international organisations such as the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS), and an important contributor to the development of new legislative standards. Drydocks World has selected RINA Group to develop vital classification services in the region.

“Enhancing the partnership between Emirates Classification-Tasneef, a classification society specialising in the maritime sector, and the RINA Group will help further develop its ability to provide a world-class service for shipbuilding, conversion and refit, as well as ongoing military programmes. It will also enhance its capability to deliver highly sophisticated services for passenger vessels, yachts, warships, and floating offshore oil & gas units. Emirates Classification-Tasneef is also furthering its technical capability in the area of complex underwater structures that require continuous survey during construction to ensure conformation to class and statutory requirements, as it continues to develop a world-class centre for ship classification in the Middle and Far Eastern region.”

H.E. Khamis Juma Buamim, Chairman of Drydocks World and Maritime World, said, “We believe in working with good partners like RINA Group to deliver excellence in ship repair, ship conversion and ship building. This agreement with RINA Group will open the way for us to enhance our services for the most complex projects.

“The MoU will provide the desired momentum in terms of sophisticated vessel repair, conversion and construction in the military sector. It will also complement our project management and technical capabilities in the high-potential yacht repair and maintenance segment as well as complex underwater structures that require continuous survey during construction to ensure conformation to class and statutory issues”.

Signing the MoU in Rome, RINA Group CEO Ugo Salerno said, “There is a wide range of skills and services available across the RINA Group. RINA Services has particular expertise with complex passenger vessel newbuildings, mega yachts and warships, and D'Appolonia has long-standing experience in combat systems and electronics. Working together with Drydocks World we can help maintain and develop a world-class centre for shipbuilding, conversion and refit, especially for the most complex projects such as floating units for offshore oil & gas, cutting-edge yachts and warships.”

For a photo of Ugo Salerno signing the agreement, go to: https://picasaweb.google.com/Merlinclients/RINA or email chris@merlinco.com

Drydocks World has established itself as a leading and fast-growing international player in offshore and engineering, ship repair and maintenance, shipbuilding and conversion, rig building and refurbishment, FPSO/FSO conversion, offshore fabrication, maritime clusters and yacht and fleet operations. The flagship yard, Drydocks World-Dubai, is the largest and most modern facility between Europe and the Far East, and is supplemented by four other facilities in Singapore and on Batam Island, Indonesia under DDW-PaxOcean.

RINA Group operates through a network of companies covering Marine, Energy, Infrastructures & Real Estate, Transport & Logistics, Environment & Sustainability, Innovation and Business Governance fields. Through its companies in their specific contexts, the RINA Group is able to follow the entire life-cycle of a plant, installation, infrastructure, ship or other kind of unit across a wide range of services, certification, assessment environmental, enhancement, product testing, site and vendor supervision. RINA Group revenues amount around 280 million Euros in 2012, with over 2,100 employees, and 150 offices in 53 countries worldwide. www.rina.org     

Contact:

Claudia Filippone

Head of Media Relations RINA Group

Ph. +39 010 5385643

claudia.filippone@rina.org

Susanna Gorni

Media Relations RINA Group

Ph. +39 010 5385555

susanna.gorni@rina.org

Contact:

Drydocks World

Sumaya Tahlak

Corporate Communications Manager

ccom@drydocks.gov.ae

Tel: +971 4 3450626

RINA announces annual results

The Board of Directors of RINA S.P.A has approved the consolidated balance sheet for the period 2012: revenues of 280 million Euros (+23%) were achieved and the operating income reached 26.3 million Euros.

The Board of RINA S.p.A. – holding company of the RINA Group – today approved the consolidated balance sheet for 2012 which confirmed the growth trend of recent years with revenues of 280 million Euros (+23% compared to 2011).

For the first time the balance sheet of RINA S.p.A. was prepared in accordance with the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) to align with the standards of listed companies.

Despite the persisting negative economic situation in 2012 the company recorded a growth in revenues from integrating D’Appolonia S.p.A., which was acquired the previous year. The operating income reached 26.3 million Euros.

D’Appolonia is a leader in Italy in engineering consultancy and with it the RINA Group has entered the medium-large firm segment with over 2,100 staff in 53 countries worldwide, more than 150 offices and revenues of 295 million Euros expected for 2013.

The development of RINA’s international network has enabled growth in the Energy sector (+18%), Food (+18%) and Environment which saw business linked to CDM projects grow by 63% internationally.

Other sectors which stood out positively in 2012 are logistic infrastructures and high-speed railways in countries such as Indonesia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates.

In the UAE the Group won the international tender for the creation of Tasneef, the first certification body in the Arab world.

In 2012 activity dedicated to research and development reached 210,000 hours, whilst training exceeded 155,000 hours. For 2013, increasing investments are foreseen.

“Diversification, competence and innovation represented the strengths of our strategy in 2012,” stated Ugo Salerno, Chief Executive Officer and President of RINA S.p.A. “Although it was a difficult year, we succeeded in transforming the RINA Group into an integrated organization with a structure that enables us to best meet the needs of our clients.

“We are developing more new services needed during the global crisis and these will help balance the smaller contribution made by marine business. We are satisfied with our growth, revenues have reached 280 million Euros (+23%), and we managed to keep our organization intact and continued to invest, through innovative solutions, in support of the shipowning industry which is preparing itself for the recovery.”

  

RINA is a multi-national group which delivers verification, certification, conformity assessment, ship classification, environmental enhancement, product testing, site and vendor supervision, training and engineering consultancy across a wide range of industries and services. RINA Group operates through a network of companies covering Marine, Energy, Infrastructures & Real Estate, Transport & Logistics, Food & Agriculture, Environment & Sustainability, Finance & Public Institutions and Business Governance. With revenues of 280 million Euros in 2012, over 2,100 employees, and 150 offices in 53 countries worldwide, RINA is recognized as an authoritative member of key international organizations and an important contributor to the development of new legislative standards. www.rina.org

Contact:

Giulia Faravelli

Media Relations Manager RINA Group

Ph. +39 010 5385505

Email giulia.faravelli@rina.org

Susanna Gorni

Media Relations RINA Group

Ph. +39 010 5385555

Email susanna.gorni@rina.org

RINA Group launches Cruise Ship Centre of Excellence

International classification society RINA Group has grouped all its experts on cruise vessels under a new Cruise Ships Centre of Excellence. The aim is to deliver improved service to operators, designers and builders of cruise vessels, and to foster innovation in new services internally.

Paolo Moretti, General Manager, Business Line Marine, RINA Group, says, “We have a lot of expertise around the group which can benefit cruise ship owners. Our recent internal reorganisation has given us the chance to harness that expertise more effectively. We have created a Cruise Ship Excellence Centre which brings together a group of leading experts in passenger ship safety, environmental issues and operational aspects. The Centre has a footprint in Italy, the USA and Asia so that we can serve clients in both mature and emerging markets.”

The Cruise Ship Centre of Excellence will provide a one-stop point of contact for the cruise industry to deliver assistance with classification and design review, environmental services, risk assessment, trouble-shooting and management and software tools. Says Moretti, “We currently class forty cruise vessels and we get diverse approaches about technical issues such as Safe Return to Port, environmental issues and energy efficiency, and above all at present about operational efficiency. Cruise companies really know that their big risks, and big operational gains, come from improving the skills of their people and helping them to work smarter. We want to help the cruise lines with the software, their people, as well as their hardware. That is why we are delivering specialised behavioural training, risk-assessment and trouble-shooting services, health, sanitation and hotel services management, monitoring and certification and managerial software, including maintenance activity, purchase cycle and cost control. People matter.”

VISIT RINA AT SEATRADE MIAMI BOOTH NUMBER 1760/15 IN THE ITALIAN TRADE COMMISION

RINA is a multi-national group which delivers verification, certification, conformity assessment, ship classification, environmental enhancement, product testing, site and vendor supervision, training and engineering consultancy across a wide range of industries and services. RINA Group operates through a network of companies covering Marine, Energy, Infrastructures & Real Estate, Transport & Logistics, Food & Agriculture, Environment & Sustainability, Finance & Public Institutions and Business Governance. With a turnover of around 280 million Euros in 2012, over 2,200 employees, and 140 offices in 49 countries worldwide, RINA is recognized as an authoritative member of key international organizations and an important contributor to the development of new legislative standards. www.rina.org

For more information:

Giulia Faravelli

Media Relations Manager RINA Group

Ph. +39 010 5385505

Email giulia.faravelli@rina.org

Susanna Gorni

Media Relations

Ph. +39 010 5385555

Email susanna.gorni@rina.org

RINA Group partners IB ship management software suite

International classification society RINA Group has partnered with Italian software house IB to distribute a software suite aimed at improving ship and fleet operation across the board. The InfoSHIP® suite is made up of a number of modules which together can be used to improve efficiency across any type of ship or fleet management.

Paolo Moretti, General Manager, Business Line Marine, RINA Group, says, “Efficient ship and fleet management depends on managing information in the right way. IB has developed this growing suite of software modules specifically for the marine market, but drawing on expertise in other sectors. Owners can choose the specific modules needed to improve their day-to-day management needs.”

Grouped under the InfoSHIP® suite are MP Maintenance & Purchase, MS Ship’s Certificates and Event Management System, DD Dry Dock Process Management, DSF Decision Support Framework, TH Technical Hotel Management, GFR Guarantee Failure Reports, AI Audit & Inspections Management and CM Compliance Management.

Maurizio Ricci, IB Chairman and CEO, says, “For thirty years IB has been dedicated to the development and implementation of computerised maintenance management systems. We are the Italian market leaders in this area and we can use the knowledge from one business sector to improve the business model in other sectors. InfoSHIP® provides specific solutions and tools to satisfy the widest needs of fleet technical management. The suite of programs is intended to provide a secure, interactive and global fleet management platform.”

InfoSHIP® satisfies the main requirements of shipowners for a management system. It is complete, covering all processes in detail, it is flexible (the interface can be modified to suit the user ranks and functions), it is interactive, it is a distributed daily work tool, and it allows real-time operations and performance and continuous monitoring of critical issues.

InfoSHIP® MP is the core module, dedicated to technical management including maintenance activity, purchasing cycle and cost control. InfoSHIP® MS follows compliance with safety, security and environmental duties and provides an event reporting system, as well as handling ship certificates and documents. InfoSHIP® DD monitors the technical, managerial and cost issues of drydocking and InfoSHIP® DSF provides operational reporting and data analysis. The TH module tracks and manages procurement and maintenance processes for cruise ships’ hotel departments, while the GFR module adds claims management. The AI module supports tracking and managing inspections, audits and vettings of all kinds and, finally, the CM module is designed for managing compliance processes, being also helpful for change management purposes.

The latest addition to RINA and IB’s offering is InfoSHIP® EGO, a system for Energy Governance whose goal is to strongly reduce GHG emissions and fuel consumption by up to 10 per cent for ships in operation. EGO covers voyage and fuel management processes, trim optimisation, propulsion efficiency and energy management, together with a powerful reporting and analysis tool for decision-makers.

The software features online operational support and SEEMP compliance, and helps optimise maintenance. InfoSHIP® EGO is a fuel-consumption monitoring system based on a step-by-step approach. The basic approach can be limited to fuel oil consumption monitoring but it can be integrated with various options such as trim optimisation, monitoring of propulsion power and monitoring of electric load. The implementation levels depend on the type of ship, the target savings and accuracy required. The system is completed by InfoSHIP® ELB Electronic Logbook,

which provides paperless management of all ship reporting issues, including Marpol

annexes, engine and deck logbooks and all ship formalities (IMO FAL Form).

“The investment in this software will depend on the type of vessel, but it is highly scalable and therefore covers completely different needs depending on the type of ship, from tanker and cargo vessels up to large cruise ships,” explains Moretti. “It can be tuned to the needs of each owner. Training is needed for staff on board and ashore, but it will deliver a payback. In our experience we have seen energy saving from non-propulsive consumption on cruise ships of between 5 and 8 per cent. Savings of 1 to 3 per cent are available through trim optimisation, and 2 to 4 per cent through increased propulsion efficiency. The crew on board can use the system information to optimise consumption at any time, while ashore dashboards can be used to improve fleet performance.”  

RINA is a multi-national group which delivers verification, certification, conformity assessment, ship classification, environmental enhancement, product testing, site and vendor supervision, training and engineering consultancy across a wide range of industries and services. RINA Group operates through a network of companies covering Marine, Energy, Infrastructures & Real Estate, Transport & Logistics, Food & Agriculture, Environment & Sustainability, Finance & Public Institutions and Business Governance. With a turnover of around 300 million Euros in 2012, over 2,100 employees, and 140 offices in 49 countries worldwide, RINA is recognized as an authoritative member of key international organizations and an important contributor to the development of new legislative standards. www.rina.org

IB is a software-house based in Rapallo, Italy. The company has been highly committed to the world of Asset Management since 1983 and is today a market leader in the supply of software systems for this specific and vast subject. In addition to InfoSHIP, IB designs, deploys and implements its systems for facilities, maintenance, health and environmental management under the titles of InfoPMS, InfoGREEN, InfoHEALTH and InfoFACILITY. IB provides its systems and services for Maintenance & Operations improvements with a special focus on technologies, methodologies, re-engineering of processes and human resources expertise. www.gruppo-ib.com

For more information:

Giulia Faravelli

Media Relations Manager RINA Group

Ph. +39 010 5385505

Email giulia.faravelli@rina.org

Susanna Gorni

Media Relations

Ph. +39 010 5385555

Email susanna.gorni@rina.org

Caterina Cerrini

Communication Manager IB

Ph. +39 0185 273088

Email c.cerrini@gruppo-ib.com