Seacurus urges more certainty from flag states on yachting agency responsibilities under MLC 2006

Specialist marine insurance intermediary Seacurus has called for more flag states to establish a process of compulsory registration for all providers of Seafarer Recruitment and Placement Service (SPRS) in the yachting sector.
 
Thomas Brown, managing director of Seacurus, says, “More countries need to follow the initiatives shown by the likes of the UK MCA and France, with the latter making company registration compulsory for SRPSs in the yachting sector. The measures introduced by the French authorities, for example, provide positive clarification for all seafarers placed on board yachts by French yachting agencies. They stipulate that any Yacht Crew Agency (YCA) which operates on French soil under any auspices, and which performs any role at all in introducing a seafarer to employment on a vessel, falls under the requirement to register on the list of yachting SRPSs established in France. But, even then, there do appear to be some grey areas in the national regulations which are leading to confusion in the yachting sector.”
 
The Professional Yachting Association (PYA) recently issued a statement emphasising that there has been ongoing confusion about the status of Yacht Crew Agencies (YCAs) under the Maritime Labour Convention 2006 (MLC), which came into effect in August 2013.  PYA says the causes of the confusion have been differences between flag states in interpreting the terms ‘recruitment and placement’, differences between flag states in integrating MLC with pre-existing legislation regarding employment services, and inconsistency among YCAs themselves when operating in the territories of different flag states, especially where one such territory may be a non-ratifying state.

According to PYA, YCAs operating in France need only to guarantee the verification process of the appropriate certification for any position offered on board. They do not need to include any provision for unpaid salaries.

Thomas Brown says, “The French government has established a process of compulsory registration for all yachting SPRSs conducting their business from a French territory. We can only assume that the registration process takes a robust view of the financial wherewithal of the applicant agency, and that the government inspector responsible for the approval of the application would have to be satisfied that the said agency was of sufficient financial standing to assume the liability for any personal financial losses incurred by seafarers they place on board yachts, in accordance with MLC Regulation 1.4 covering Recruitment and Placement. But some YCAs may find it difficult to provide confirmation of the financial standing needed to satisfy the authorities.

 
“Meanwhile, there would appear to be no compulsory requirement for French yachting agencies to demonstrate that they have a system of protection, by way of insurance or equivalent appropriate measure in place as envisaged by MLC Standard A.1.4.5(c) (vi).  Compliance with this regulation would seem to be achieved by agencies demonstrating to an inspector that they are on the new French registry.

“So while the French authorities are to be congratulated for introducing a degree of certainty into their regulation of YCAs and their MLC responsibilities, the fact remains that liability under MLC Standard A.1.4.5(c) (vi) does not disappear simply because the SRPS has satisfied the French regulations. The SRPS still has an exposure to indemnify its seafarers’ financial losses in accordance with the MLC standard, and this is where appropriate insurance cover is invaluable. Such cover is available both to SRPSs operating in domiciles where it is required by the relevant regulatory body. It is also available to agencies in countries such as France that would like to take out the cover voluntarily as either a balance-sheet protection in the event that they have to respond in the event of a yacht owner’s contractual default giving rise to a personal financial loss for a seafarer they have placed at sea, or if needed to enhance the company’s credit rating when applying to become a registered company.

“It was clear from the second meeting of the ILO Special Tripartite Committee meeting held in Geneva in February this year that many flag states are having difficulty in interpreting the requirements placed upon them in respect of MLC Standard A.1.4.5(c) (vi). It is time for greater clarity of the kind shown by the UK and France, but also for greater awareness of the value of MLC insurance coverage which responds in the event of a yacht owners’ contractual default.”

Seacurus Ltd is an FCA-regulated insurance intermediary, founded in 2004, specialising in bespoke revenue protection cover for the maritime industry. It is a market leader in the design and implementation of solutions to protect companies from unforecasted balance-sheet impacts, including credit default, charter party cancellations, hijackings and voyage disruptions caused by political events. Seacurus established the first delegated underwriting binding authority for marine kidnap insurance and is an approved Lloyd’s Coverholder. www.seacurus.com

Formed in 2007, Barbican Insurance Group underwrites business predominantly through its syndicates at Lloyd’s. Barbican’s lines of business include marine, aviation and transport re/insurance, property re/insurance, media and contingency, energy and specialty lines including casualty reinsurance, cyber liability, healthcare liability, financial and professional lines and professional indemnity. 

Barbican also has a non-Lloyd’s financial solutions business based in Guernsey which offers insurance and reinsurance programmes to the global market. It also has a number of subsidiary companies, including Barbican Protect Limited, Castel Underwriting Agencies Limited and Seacurus Limited. www.barbicaninsurance.com

RINA launches new services for yacht sector

Italy-based classification society RINA has launched a series of new services and standards aimed at helping the growing global yacht industry to grow efficiencies and reduce its environmental footprint.

The five new services being rolled out in the last quarter of 2015 are a Global Compliance certification for boats to show they meet both US and EU standards, a set of courses and certification for Marina Managers, Electromagnetic Interference & Hazard Evaluation, a new class notation for yachts that measures the environmental impact of the whole life cycle of the yachts and new rules for a more extensive use of glass on the hull and superstructure.

Paolo Moretti, General Manager Marine, RINA Services, says, “The global yacht industry is growing strongly and is very diverse. These new services are a demonstration of our intention to provide useful services and standards to every sector of the industry, wherever they are.”

GLOBAL COMPLIANCE certification

RINA is the first European class society with surveyors qualified to carry out NMMA inspection for boats built in Europe or other parts of the world which are to be sold or used in the USA. This will be grouped with CE compliance so boats can have a new RINA certification called GLOBAL COMPLIANCE. Italian inflatable boat builder Zar Formenti and the Italian Sea Group are the two first companies to benefit from this unified dual certification. Recognising the high added value of this service, many other companies are now going through the NMMA/GLOBAL COMPLIANCE certification process.

Use of glass

RINA is developing a new standard for dimensioning and designing glass to be used on pleasure craft based on alternative design concepts. The RINA standards are currently in the experimental phase and are intended to retain the safety provided by current ISO standards while opening the way for designers and builders to use glass in more extensive and innovative ways in yachts of all sizes.

The regulations will do away with the need to test full size mock-ups, which are very costly to produce and require a lot of preparation time. The formulas to be applied take into account the latest construction techniques and materials used in the industry without having to resort to costly destructive tests.

Electromagnetic Hazard Evaluation

Yacht owners are becoming more and more aware of environmental issues and they also want to be protected from electromagnetic emissions. Electromagnetic emissions are invisible but could impair the performance of electronic systems installed on board and affect the health of people who are subject to them for a long time. For this reason RINA will now deliver a set of services aimed at controlling and measuring the level of this type of emission.

RINA can intervene at the design phase with dedicated software which can assess possible interferences between equipment, find the optimal cable routing and mitigate total emission level. It is also possible to measure the electromagnetic emission level on board after construction. This sets a new quality standard for the shipyard and gives recognized evidence to the owner that these levels are below the ones stated by EU regulation 1999/519/CE.

Tankoa’s MY Suerte was the first yacht to be tested as a pilot project to assess its compliance with European standards.

Environmental footprint

RINA is developing a new class notation for yachts that measures the environmental impact of the whole life cycle of the yachts. It will provide a benchmark to measure the yacht’s environmental footprint against key indicators such as climate change (Global Warming Potential) and water acidification (Acidification Potential).

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) analysis will be used to calculate impacts for the entire life cycle from raw material extraction to the final disposal of the yacht, evaluating all inputs including power consumption and materials and all outputs including emissions to the air, water and ground and waste production. RINA’s LCA notation verifies not only the environmental impacts, but also the social aspects in the shipyard and manufacturing process, such as safety at work, equal opportunities and child labour absence.

Improving Marina Management

RINA has built on its MaRINA EXCELLENCE certification scheme which rates the value of a marina in terms of offered services, security level and environmental protection. The scheme has now been extended by developing a certification programme and a series of courses for marina managers and senior staff. The growth in marinas and tourist harbours has led to the development of a new profession of managing marinas. As a leader in the process, product and personnel certification sector, RINA has developed a certification scheme for professionals in the tourist harbour sector, according to standards covered by ACCREDIA accreditation, and in conformity to the UNI CEI EN ISO/IEC 17024 standard. The MARINA MANAGER course leads to the certification of professionals tasked with managing tourist harbours. It helps ensure marinas are correctly run and helps marinas distinguish themselves from less professional or unqualified competitors.

New UK Yachting Manager

In a separate move intended to improve service to yacht builders RINA has strengthened its team in the UK and appointed a new Yachting Manager, Lewis Northcott. He knows the UK market well as during the last seven years Lewis has supervised over 120 newbuild superyacht projects in UK shipyards as RINA’s survey team leader.

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

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

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 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 strengthens UK yacht expertise

International classification society RINA has responded to increasing demand for superyachts in the UK and Northern Europe by opening a new plan approval and technical office in the UK specifically to support superyacht designers, naval architects and shipyards.

Paolo Moretti, Yachting Business Manager, RINA, says, “Even during the crisis we have seen strong UK-based yacht builders such as Sunseeker and Princess growing, and they are both investing more and more into the larger sizes of yachts. They choose RINA to class those yachts, and we see growing demand for advice, consultancy, pre-assessment and direct liaison over plan approval for superyachts. That is why we have put two very experienced yacht engineers into a new UK yacht plan approval office. They will be able to help designers and yards cope with the requirements of the new MCA Passenger Yacht Code and the upcoming requirements of ILO MLC2006.”

The new UK yacht plan approval office is currently working from RINA’s Portsmouth office but will move into dedicated premises in Southampton from January 2011. “The staff in the new office will have experience in yacht building yards and production and class requirements. They will be close to the superyacht sector in the UK, and also be well positioned to help designers and yards in Germany, the Netherlands and Scandinavia,” says Moretti.


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