Bureau Veritas kick-starts LNG bunkering

Leading international classification society Bureau Veritas has published a comprehensive set of guidelines on LNG Bunkering, with the aim of speeding adoption of LNG as a ship’s fuel by kick-starting the LNG bunker chain.

Jean-Francois Segretain, Technical Director, Marine and Offshore Division, Bureau Veritas says, “We really believe that LNG has great potential as a clean fuel for shipping. But fears over its availability in the bunker chain are holding back owners from adopting it. Part of the issue is that ports and terminals wishing to provide LNG as bunkers and shipowners wishing to have LNG-powered ships do not have agreed international standard bunker procedures to work to. Bureau Veritas has very wide experience with LNG in the marine context and we hope that these guidelines will give ports, terminals, LNG suppliers and shipowners confidence to proceed.”

BV’s Guidance on LNG Bunkering NI 618 provides recommendations on LNG bunkering, focusing on the framework to be established with the port authorities and the bunkering organizations before any commercial operation, conditions to be observed before, during and after each bunkering operation, management of emergency situations and the training of staff involved in bunkering operations.
Explains Segretain, “We have done a lot of work on risk analysis for LNG bunkering, helping owners such as Brittany Ferries make the decision to switch to LNG as a fuel. Our risk management expertise combined with our deep LNG experience means we can help everyone involved to be more confident of a safe and standard approach to LNG bunkering.

“We are not talking about specifying the equipment, which will be done by the ISO, we are talking about managing the risks and getting the procedures and people part of this right. We can also provide training for all the personnel involved, from the senior ship management and the engineer receiving the LNG and the port management and LNG bunker staff delivering it. LNG is the future, and confidence in safe handling of it is the key to progress. We can deliver that confidence.”


For a copy of the guidelines e mail martial.claudepierre@bureauveritas.com


Bureau Veritas is a world leader in conformity assessment and certification services. Created in 1828, the Group has more than 60,000 employees in around 1,330 offices and laboratories located in 140 countries. Bureau Veritas helps its clients to improve their performances by offering services and innovative solutions in order to ensure that their assets, products, infrastructure and processes meet standards and regulations in terms of quality, health and safety, environmental protection and social responsibility.

Bureau Veritas is listed on Euronext Paris and belongs to the Next 20 index.
Compartment A, code ISIN FR 0006174348, stock symbol: BVI.
www.bureauveritas.com

www.veristar.com

Contacts

Bureau Veritas
Martial Claudepierre +33 6 48 69 00 73
martial.claudepierre@bureauveritas.com

Philippe Boisson: +33 (0)1 55 24 71 98
philippe.boisson@bureauveritas.com

Bureau Veritas launches industry-backed tug guidelines

Leading international classification society Bureau Veritas has worked closely with the towing industry to develop a comprehensive set of Guidelines for Design, Construction and Operation of Tugs. The Guidance Note provides harmonised and rationalised safety rules for tugs in an area of marine safety where there are many vessels not covered by international conventions and no agreed international rule framework.

Gijsbert de Jong, business development manager for offshore service vessels and tugs at Bureau Veritas says, “Active involvement with industry stakeholders was vital to building these rules. They are pragmatic and they are developed around the latest technical developments with an open mind towards innovation.”

Bureau Veritas has worked in close co-operation with a number of industry leaders, including Robert Allan Ltd, Damen Shipyards, Smit Lamnalco/Smit Towage and Kotug International, building the new framework on feedback received on experience with the work of the SafeTug JIP, which reported in 2010.

The rules allow designers and builders to select an operational profile and safely configure the tug accordingly. The requirements cover design loads, stability criteria, strength and operational criteria for towing equipment and anchor equipment. For ships not covered by the SOLAS Convention, a practical safety matrix with requirements for fire safety, life-saving appliances, radio installations and navigation equipment is included which takes into account the familiarity of the crew with the operating area and the availability of shore facilities and emergency assistance.

The tug’s design capability limits are clearly set out. For harbour tugs and seagoing tugs, the maximum bollard pull will be indicated, while for escort tugs the maximum steering force, maximum braking force and maximum escort speed will be stated.

Says de Jong, “Bureau Veritas is the world leader in the classification of tugs, with over 1,650 tugs in class and 300 newbuilding tugs on its order book. That represents a 22 per cent market share of IACS-classed tugs. The global market for tugs is changing quickly as ship sizes increase. There are also more offshore terminal operations, broader escort requirements and increased pressure to reduce emissions. One of the issues facing the tug industry is a lack of clear global safety guidelines and rules. BV’s new Guidelines for Design, Construction and Operation of Tugs will set a new baseline for all tug builders and operators and help make the whole industry safer and more effective.”


For a graphic go to http://bit.ly/1jw4QLQ or email chris@merlinco.com

For a copy of the guidelines e mail gijsbert.de-jong@bureauveritas.com


Bureau Veritas is a world leader in conformity assessment and certification services. Created in 1828, the Group has 61,000 employees in around 1,330 offices and laboratories located in 140 countries. Bureau Veritas helps its clients to improve their performance by offering services and innovative solutions in order to ensure that their assets, products, infrastructure and processes meet standards and regulations in terms of quality, health and safety, environmental protection and social responsibility.

www.bureauveritas.com for corporate information

www.veristar.com for marine information

For more information:

Gijsbert de Jong
Bureau Veritas
+33 685263741
gijsbert.de-jong@bureauveritas.com


Philippe Boisson
Bureau Veritas
+33 (0)1 55 24 71 98
philippe.boisson@bureauveritas.com

RINA launches Efficient Ship notation

International classification society RINA has launched a new voluntary notation to clearly identify new ship designs which meet eco-ship criteria.

The Efficient Ship notation is granted to ships and new designs assessed by RINA to have  very high overall efficiency of engines, a lower fuel demand at owner defined speed, deadweight higher than the average for the particular type of ship and a system to monitor their performance during their life.

Dino Cervetto, head of technical services, RINA Services, says, “It is easy for shipyards to offer eco-ship designs, but it is much harder for shipowners and especially charterers to distinguish which vessels are actually more economical in service than others. We can look across the market and compare ship performance and help owners to choose the right ships, and then with this notation, help them to stand out in the market place.”

 The first ships to be issued with the Efficient Ship notation are a series of nine 39,000 dwt bulk carriers, built for d’Amico Dry in China, at the Yangfan Group yard.

RINA has also recently launched two route-dependent voluntary notations. In partnership with UAE classification society Tasneef it has launched the SAHARA notation for ships specifically equipped for navigation around the Arabian peninsula, and for containerships it has launched a ROUTE DEPENDENT LASHING notation which optimises lashing strategies depending on the sea conditions expected on different trades, giving much more flexibility in cargo handling operations.

RINA Services S.p.A. is the RINA Group’s company active in classification, certification, inspection and testing 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 2,200 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:

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

 

 

 

 

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

TASNEEF-RINA class first vessel

Emirates classification society TASNEEF has classed its first commercial vessel. The 96,214 dwt oil tanker Energena is jointly-classed with Italian classification society RINA. Yesterday His Highness Sheikh Majid Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, attended a ceremony to mark the flag raising and the granting of classification by TASNEEF-RINA.

 

The vessel is owned by Dubai-based Energena Shipping and managed by Gulf Stolt Ship Management JLT, (GSSM). Built by Samsung in Korea the vessel is currently completing its class surveys carried out by two teams of surveyors deployed by the two classification societies.

 

Andrea di Bella, Area Manager Middle East, RINA Group, says, “This is a special occasion for TANSEEF and RINA with the classification of the first vessel in dual class. We are achieving a high level of confidence for the co-operation between the two class societies in the demanding classification market of the Gulf region. This is the first achievement of many to come building on the partnership between TASNEEF and RINA launched at the beginning of the year. We expect this to be the first step on a long and successful path together.”

 

Mr Rashed Alhebsi, CEO of TASNEEF, says, "TASNEEF welcomes Energena as its first commercial oil tanker of this size in our registry. We are happy to celebrate this event with our partners. We committed to our clients to deliver the highest quality standards, building a long relationship to serve our clients in the region. Today we are happy to see the outcome of the choice we made to work together with our strategic partner IACS-member RINA, and we will continue this co-operation further to penetrate the region's market which show potential opportunities with new exploration and projects in the oil and gas sector.”

 

Mr Rashid Al Ghurair, CEO Energena Shipping JLT, says, “Energena Shipping, an Emirati organization, is proud to operate under the umbrella of TASNEEF-RINA class. The TASNEEF-RINA class joint venture is a great initiative by the UAE government to support the shipping industry in this region and we are excited that our ship is the first vessel under this class. We thank all for the support presented to us.”

 

TASNEEF, a new classification society for the United Arab Emirates, was established in Abu Dhabi at the beginning of 2013.   Working in partnership with RINA, the goal is to develop TASNEEF as an international classification society capable of meeting the technical and classification needs of the region's maritime industry, the UAE flag and international commercial shipping.  

 

Gulf Stolt Ship Management JLT (GSSM) - Dubai, accredited for ISO 9001:2008 & ISO 14001:2004, reputed for cost-effective, qualitative and transparent performance of technical and operations of VLCCs, IMO II Chemical Carriers, large PROBOs, ARAMAX and Crew Boats, has been engaged by ENERGENA SHIPPING JLT - Dubai, to fully manage their vessel M/T ENERGENA.

 

GSSM, established in 2009, is a joint-venture between Gulf Navigation Group (UAE) and Stolt-Nielsen (Norway). It has a proven record for its professional dedication to high standards in management of ships. Mr Aniello Esposito, President of GSSM, attributes their consistent success to the spirit of the GSSM Team which is fully dedicated 24/7.

 

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 RINA Group

Ph. +39 010 5385555

Mail. susanna.gorni@rina.org

Bureau Veritas confirms MSC’s green credentials

MSC Cruises is committed to making green choices that keep the oceans blue. The company’s energy efficiency matches the industry-leading ecoship and cleanship credentials and its green efforts have been recognized with a string of environmental certifications, alongside awards praising its creative interior design, comfort, cuisine and friendly service.

Once again, the latest flagship in the MSC fleet is set to become a green paragon in the industry, with leading international classification society Bureau Veritas officially conferring the “7 Golden Pearls” award to MSC Preziosa, the company’s 4^th Fantasia class ship.

The “7 Golden Pearls” is one of highest awards for cruise vessels in recognition of the specific voluntary attention paid, from design and building to operation, to “Quality Health Safety Environment” (QHSE).

The integrated sections that make up the award are:

Classification notation “CLEANSHIP 2”, for the three domains of potential air, water and waste pollution. It targets the Advanced Waste Water Treatment which is unique in the cruise industry and acknowledges that the ship is fitted with the means to prevent the release of pollutants or waste matter into the sea and air.

This award also:

- validates that the vessel has been designed, built, operated and maintained to achieve appropriate protection for the environment.

- covers annexes I, IV,V and VI of MARPOL, as well as the very strict rules on waste and ballast water management, the anti-fouling system and pollution by ozone-depleting substances.

- validates that the vessel is fully equipped with high incineration capacities, advanced water treatment systems, the newest oil water separators, and vast storage capacities for two days full operation at sea. 

MSC Cruises and the new vessel are covered by:

ISO 14001- Certification of the highest standards of the Environmental Management System, requiring a complete coherent management system of all environmental aspects and impacts of all activities.

HSAS 18001 – Certification for the highest standards of the Safety Management System requiring complete management of health and safety of workers on board and in the company’s head office.

ISO 22000 – Certification for the highest standards of Food Safety Management, ensuring complete and validated safety of all food processes, from farm to fork.

And the newly acquired ‘pearl’ ISO 50001 – Certification for the highest standards of Energy Performance, requiring an energy management system that follows a systematic approach in achieving continual improvement of the ship’s energy performance.

The “7 Golden Pearls” award is a reflection of MSC Cruises’ commitment to safeguarding the marine ecosystem, as well as protecting the health and safety of its passengers and staff.

Philippe Donche-Gay, Executive Vice President and head of Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore Division, says, “The ‘7 Golden Pearls’ we are awarding to MSC Preziosa are a demonstration that MSC Cruises is committed to the environment, to food safety and to the health and safety of its workforce. MSC Cruises takes a holistic view of its responsibilities in all these areas and invests to go well beyond the basic requirements of regulation. It is a great pleasure to be able to verify and recognise these achievements, which set a new and higher integrated standard for the entire cruise industry.”

For a photo of MSC Preziosa, go to: http://bit.ly/o4oUp8 or email chris@merlinco.com

                                                                

About MSC Cruises

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 offers a wide range of seasonal itineraries in Northern Europe, the Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean, the French Antilles, South America, South and West Africa, and the Red Sea. Its modern fleet comprises eleven ships: Fantasia-class 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. In 2013 the fleet will once again increase in size with the addition of MSC Preziosa, who will be christened in March. MSC Cruises is the only company in the world to receive the "6 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 fund a community project aimed at providing disadvantaged children in Brazil with a quality education. To date, MSC Cruises has raised over two million euros for the initiative.

About Bureau Veritas

Bureau Veritas is a world leader in conformity assessment and certification services. Created in 1828, the Group has 58,000 employees in 940 offices and 340 laboratories located in 140 countries. Bureau Veritas helps its clients to improve their performance by offering services and innovative solutions in order to ensure that their assets, products, infrastructure and processes meet standards and regulations in terms of quality, health and safety, environmental protection and social responsibility.

www.bureauveritas.com for corporate information                            www.veristar.com  for marine information

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 updates GREEN PLUS notation to cover transhipment terminals

International classification society RINA has updated its industry-leading GREEN PLUS notation to include new potential sources of pollution involving seagoing ships and ships operating at fixed locations.

GREEN PLUS is awarded to new vessels that make a significant investment in design solutions, onboard equipment and operational procedures which contribute to an improvement in environmental performance beyond the minimum levels required by regulation. Now GREEN PLUS includes, for the first time, specific reference to dispersion of cargo dusts from solid bulk cargo storage, spillage/leakage of substances from areas on weather decks, hot water discharge, dirty water from areas on weather decks, noise, visual impact, and light pollution assessment and mitigation. Special consideration is given to barges without machinery spaces.

The importance of monitoring the impact on the local environment of ships mainly operated at fixed offshore locations has also been included in GREEN PLUS through the introduction of environmental risk assessment, and through the periodic monitoring of air and seawater quality and of terrestrial and marine flora, including migrant animals.

The new GREEN PLUS rules, together with other important new rules and amendments, were approved by RINA’s Technical Committee at its June meeting today.

Nicola Coccia, the current Chairman of Gestioni Armatoriali SpA and of Terminal Napoli SpA, has been appointed Chairman of RINA’s Technical Committee.

Committee members are:

-          Prof. Ing. Antonio Campanile, Professor of Offshore Structures, University of Napoli Federico II;

-          Dr.ssa Annamaria Cruciani, Division 4 Internal Maritime Safety, Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport;

-          Ing. Andrea Frabetti, Product development Director -  Ferretti Group;

-          Ing. Domenico Impagliazzo, Division 4 Internal Maritime Safety, Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport;

-          Ing. Giorgio La Valle, CEO Marine Engineering Services (MES);

-          Ing. Luigi Matarazzo, Deputy Chief Operating Officer - FINCANTIERI ;

-          Ing. Roberto Martinoli, CEO Grandi Navi Veloci;

-          CF Sergio Simone, Head of the Ship Design Office - Italian Navy General Staff;

-          Cap. Antonio Talarico, Director General P.L. Ferrari & Co. S.R.L.;

-          Ing. Tiziano Zarbo, Managing Director  E&C vessel management, maintenance and upgrading Vice President – SAIPEM.

 RINA is a multi-national group fully capable of supporting its clients in the development and management of the various phases of their activities, using its innovation potential, competence, integrity and experience to help produce a successful outcome to a variety of initiatives. To guarantee the most advanced level of technical competence and speed of intervention, the RINA Group operates through a network of companies dedicated to different sectors, covering Marine, Infrastructures & Real Estate, Transport & Logistics, Food & Agriculture, Environment & Sustainability, Finance & Public Institutions, Business Governance and Energy. With a turnover of around 300 million Euros in 2012, over 2,100 employees, and 130 offices in 42 countries worldwide, RINA meets the needs of its clients and is recognised as an authoritative member of key international organisations and an important contributor to the development of new legislative standards. www.rina.org          

For more information:

Claudia Filippone

Head of Communication RINA Group

+39 010 5385643

claudia.filippone@rina.org

Giulia Faravelli

Media Relations Manager RINA Group

+39 010 5385505

giulia.faravelli@rina.org

RINA launches management shareholding scheme

International classification society RINA has introduced a management shareholding scheme which will increase group capital by Euro 12 million and give managers across the group the opportunity to share in RINA’s growth.

In the first tranche almost 50 per cent of the available shares have been taken up by 90 managers, who have paid Euro 6 million for 2,840 shares, around 5 per cent of the group capital. A further tranche of 3,000 shares will be released to staff over the next four years.

Ugo Salerno, Chairman and CEO of RINA Group says, “In the last year we have made a number of significant acquisitions, increasing group turnover by 50 per cent, and radically overhauled our internal structures so that we set innovation free. This scheme gives our managers a chance to buy into the growth of RINA. It provides the group with new capital to fund further acquisitions and at the same time gives our key staff a stake in their own future. Being a shareholder is truly motivating and the scheme will benefit both the individual investors and the group as a whole. An exciting internal dialogue is now underway in RINA, creating a climate for innovation and creativity. There is a positive feeling everywhere that with our new structures and new partners and now this staff shareholding scheme we can do more for our clients in more places.”

The RINA group diversified strongly last year and invested more in areas of the world with growing economies, ending the year with a turnover of Euro 249 million. That is expected to surpass Euro 300 million in 2012.

The RINA Group is an international company that helps enterprises and communities to achieve greater competitiveness and effective risk management through the conception, creation, management and assessment of projects. The Group has developed the best competencies and combined them with its own values of integrity and responsibility, gained in over 150 years of experience, into a way of working that

meets the highest expectations. RINA Group delivers advanced technical competency through a network of companies dedicated to different sectors covering Environment and Quality, Energy, Maritime, Ethics and Safety, Food Production and Healthcare, Infrastructures and Constructions, Logistics and Transport. With a turnover of around 300 million Euros in 2012, over 2,100 employees, and 130 offices in 42 countries worldwide, RINA meets the needs of its clients and 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 Media Relations RINA

+39 010 5385643

claudia.filippone@rina.org

Giulia Faravelli

Media Relations

+39 010 5385505

giulia.faravelli@rina.org

RINA acquires D’Appolonia engineering consultancy

INTERNATIONAL classification society RINA has taken control of the D’Appolonia Group, a global engineering consultancy headquartered in Genoa. The acquisition of an 80 per cent holding in D’Appolonia SPA significantly strengthens RINA’s global engineering consultancy and takes RINA’s projected 2012 turnover to over Euro300m.

The D’Appolonia Group, founded in the USA but headquartered in Genoa since 1981, delivers engineering competencies in the field of strategic consultancy, planning and design in various industrial sectors from a global network of offices. It generated revenue in 2011 of over Euro87m. The group employs over 580 multidisciplinary staff with extensive capabilities in the earth sciences, civil, environmental and structural engineering, risk assessment, health and safety, chemical and process engineering, system and transport engineering, electronics, telecommunications and innovation engineering.

The companies of the Group provide integrated engineering services to the public and private markets in the sectors of environment, energy, infrastructure and transport, electronics and telecommunications, with a successful track record of over 20,000 projects.

Ugo Salerno, CEO of RINA, says “The acquisition of another company founded on excellence like D’Appolonia is a step forward in our development strategy which is based on boosting our competencies, improving synergies and delivering services with a high added value. We can provide a wider range of expert services to more companies and governments world-wide, as D’Appolonia’s expertise and markets strengthen some things we already do and also widen the range of services we can deliver. In this 150th anniversary year we are transforming the RINA Group and positioning it to grow and develop further, consolidating our presence in global markets and widening our range of services by acquiring other excellent companies.”

Giampaolo Vaccaro, President of D’Appolonia says, “With our other stakeholders we spent a long time considering before deciding who to entrust the future of D’Appolonia to, and in the RINA Group we identified the values, the reliability and the strategic vision which we are certain will enable our company to reach new and important objectives.”

D’Appolonia’s main markets are Italy with 48 per cent, Europe with 24.5 per cent and Asia with 22 per cent. The company has its headquarters in Genoa and a network of eight foreign offices and six in Italy. The 20 per cent of the company not acquired by RINA remains with the original private shareholders.

www.dappolonia.it

RINA is one of the oldest classification societies and certification companies in the world. Established in Genoa in 1861 to serve the marine industry, today it spans the globe as a multinational and multi-faceted company, sharing its knowledge and experience through a wide range of services which help industries and the community to improve their businesses and quality of life. RINA’s services cover the environment, energy, transportation, logistics, safety, quality and social responsibility. www.rina.org


For more information:
Claudia Filippone
Head of Media Relations
RINA
+39 010 5385643
cfp@rina.org

Giulia Faravelli
Media Relations
+39 010 5385505
giulia.faravelli@rina.org

Bureau Veritas extends Russian partnerships

Bureau Veritas is extending its partnerships in the Russian shipping and offshore sector, focussing on High Arctic offshore projects. Bureau Veritas and the Russian Register are working together to provide basic design review for the Shtokman FPU for the two tenderers: SAIPEM, SAMSUNG and SOFEC (SSS) and AKER, TECHNIP and SBM (ATS). The process has called for a comparison between BV and RS rules, design review and documentation review, and performance of thermal, linear and non-linear hydrodynamic and structural calculations with VeriSTAR Hull.

BV’s Offshore Rules have been translated into Russian and co-operation agreements have been reached with the Russian Register and the University of St Petersburg.

“The challenges of extracting oil and gas from the tough environments of the high Arctic have led to close co-operation between Bureau Veritas and the Russian Register, and close links between Bureau Veritas and the University of St Petersburg,” explains Bernard Anne, managing director of BV’s marine division. “There is huge potential in the exploitation of oil and gas fields in the High Arctic, and we are working with the main offshore operators and our Russian partners to ensure the natural resources can be harvested to benefit Russia and that it is done safely and cleanly.”

BV has also provided services to the Shtokman and other Russian projects including Independent Verification Body Services to provide assurance of design integrity at the FEED stage of disconnectable floating production platforms, the offshore trunk pipeline and subsea production systems.

Bureau Veritas and the Russian Maritime Register of Shipping are working under a three-year co-operation agreement covering the development of joint guidelines for LNG carriers and Offshore Floating Production Units (FPUs).

“We can combine the particular strengths of the BV and RS rules, to produce definitive guidelines which draw on the experience and expertise of both organisations,” explains Anne.

Under the agreement, common guidelines for LNG carriers, based on GAP analyses as well as the BV and RS rules and the IMO IGC Code, are expected to be published in first-quarter 2012. These will include the requirement for operating in Arctic areas. Work on producing common guidelines for FPUs has begun. In addition to the parameters used for the LNG guidelines, these will include feedback gained from the work on the Shtokman natural gas field.

In a separate development the leading Russian design office Severnoje has selected BV as the class society for its new Medmax LNG carrier design.

BV joined forces with the State Maritime University of St Petersburg to develop IceSTAR, an industrial software tool for modelling ice loads and their effects on structures. The program dramatically improves the structural design of new generation of large LNG carriers and offshore floaters for use in heavy ice conditions.


Bureau Veritas is a world leader in conformity assessment and certification services. Created in 1828, the Group has close to 50,000 employees in 930 offices and 330 laboratories located in 140 countries. Bureau Veritas helps its clients to improve their performances by offering services and innovative solutions in order to ensure that their assets, products, infrastructure and processes meet standards and regulations in terms of quality, health and safety, environmental protection and social responsibility.

www.bureauveritas.com for corporate information, www.veristar.com for marine information.

Visit Bureau Veritas at NEVA, St Petersburg, 20 -23 September. Hall 7 Booth No 723

For more information:
Peter LIKHACHEV
+7 812 324 71 26/24
peter.likhachev@ru.bureauveritas.com

RINA obtains Kazakhstan recognition

INTERNATIONAL classification society RINA has been officially recognised as a competent and authorised authority to carry out classification and statutory services for ships registered under the Kazakhstan flag.

The authorisation was formalised in a recently signed agreement between the Ministry of Transport and Communications of the Republic of Kazakhstan and RINA Services SpA, the parent company of the Genoa-headquartered RINA Group.

Under the terms of this agreement, RINA is authorised to classify and survey Kazakhstan-registered ships, to confirm their conformity to the requirements of international and national conventions and agreements, and to issue corresponding certification.

The agreement also extends to cover the training of Kazakhstan Administration personnel, who will be able to apply to participate in RINA training courses, workshops, conferences and other similar events.

RINA is one of the oldest classification societies and certification companies in the world. Established in Genoa in 1861 to serve the marine industry, today it spans the globe as a multinational and multi-faceted company, sharing its knowledge and experience through a wide range of services which help industries and the community to improve their businesses and quality of life. RINA’s services cover the environment, energy, transportation, logistics, safety, quality and social responsibility. www.rina.org

For more information:
Claudia Filippone
Head of Media Relations RINA
+39 010 5385643
cfp@rina.org

Giulia Faravelli
Media Relations
+39 010 5385505
giulia.faravelli@rina.org

Bureau Veritas classed fleets tops 80 m gt

The Bureau Veritas classed fleet has grown strongly during 2011 and in June passed 80 m gt. Today 9,663 sea-going vessels and 1,853 inland navigation ships are classed by Bureau Veritas.

The growth has been led by the delivery of 320 new vessels and the transfer in of 198vessels in service since the beginning of the year.

Today the fleet is well balanced in tonnage with 37 per cent bulk carriers, 20 per cent tankers, 8 per cent gas carriers, 5 per cent passenger vessels, 14 per cent containerships and 16 per cent specialised and offshore vessels.

Significant new additions to the BV class fleet in the last month include two capesize bulk carriers built in China for Greek shipowner Centrofin Management Inc and for American shipowner Foremost Group and two 75,200 dwt bulk carriers Good Luck and Good Wish built in China for the Chinese shipowner Pacific Wealth Shipping Co. Ltd.

These vessels joined the BV class fleet on the day it passed the 80 m gt mark. On the same day Greek shipmanager Quintana Ship Management transferred the 82,200 dwt bulk carrier Q Jake, delivered in March 2011, to BV class.

Bureau Veritas is a leading international service provider, dedicated to quality assurance, environmental, health, and safety, (QEHS) management services across a wide range of economic activities, including marine, industry and facilities, government services, and consumer products.

By far the largest classification and certification society in the world, Bureau Veritas has over 48,000 employees and 900 offices in over 140 countries throughout the world.

http://www.bureauveritas.comfor corporate information, http://www.veritas.comfor marine information.


For more information:
Philippe Boisson
Bureau Veritas
+33 1 55 24 71 98
philippe.boisson@bureauveritas.com

RINA develops CNG rules and guidelines

International classification society RINA has used its offshore gas expertise to develop rules and guidelines for the exploitation, transport and storage of Compressed Natural Gas.

Angelo Lo Nigro, Oil and Gas Manager, RINA, says, “Compressed Natural Gas offers an alternative way to move natural gas where volumes do not support a liquefaction plant or a pipeline. A significant amount of the world’s gas reserves fit these criteria, and as environmental pressure makes it more difficult to flare gas CNG transportation is a useful alternative to expensive re-injection into the field.

“There are a number of potential systems for CNG carriers, but to date no solution has been implemented. We have worked with industrial partners and drawn on our own experience with LNG offshore to set up rules and guidance for the approval in principle of pressure vessels for use in a marine environment and for the conceptual design of various CNG carriers.”

Visit RINA at Hall 2 Stand B121 Gastech, Amsterdam RAI, The Netherlands, 21-24 March 2011 and at Hall 6 Stand K1 OMC, Ravenna, Pala de André, Italy, March 23-25, 2011.

For a copy of the paper “Development of RINA Rules for Classification of CNG Carrier Ships” given by RINA at the10th Offshore Mediterranean Conference and Exhibition
email chris@merlinco.com


To download a graph showing CNG best practice go to:

http://picasaweb.google.com/Merlinclients/RINA

or email chris@merlinco.com

RINA is one of the oldest classification societies and certification companies in the world. Established in Genoa in 1861 to serve the marine industry, today it spans the globe as a multinational and multi-faceted company, sharing its knowledge and experience through a wide range of services which help industries and the community to improve their businesses and quality of life. RINA’s services cover the environment, energy, transportation, logistics, safety, quality and social responsibility. www.rina.org

For more information:

Claudia Filippone
Press Co-ordinator
RINA
+39 010 538 5643
claudia.filippone@rina.org