This article is an in-depth interview with Giosuè Vezzuto, Executive Vice President of Maritime at the Italy classification society RINA, on decarbonization, digitalization and comfort on super and mega yachts. With RINA Maxima services, you can face and overcome all the challenges.
As Italy's leading certification and engineering consultancy, with 200 offices and 5,300 employees in 70 countries, RINA is committed to simplifying complex processes, with a special focus on green transformation, sustainability and digitalization. The multinational company – with a turnover of 725 million euros in 2022 – is able to provide the necessary support for the establishment of a successful business, thanks to the experience it has gained in very different industrial sectors, as well as its know-how and expertise in working on the realization of the most ambitious projects.
In addition to participating in major international organizations that contribute to the development of new standards and regulations, RINA offers a range of services that extend well beyond the maritime industry. The company's history began with the establishment of the Italy Ship Registry in Genoa in 1861 and is currently active in the energy, infrastructure and transport, industrial and real estate sectors. In the yachting industry, where the Corsica-based company has been in operation for about 20 years and is a global leader in CE marking for yachts up to 24 meters in length, RINA has also achieved a leading position in the field of metal hull yachts thanks to its solid team of experts and cutting-edge skills. RINA's reputation is also due to its bespoke services that are studied specifically for the specific needs of design houses, shipyards and ship owners.
"To date, we have certified nearly 1,300 yachts worldwide, of which about 70 have a gross tonnage of more than 500 tons. This makes us particularly proud because it allows us to be part of a very small number of companies operating in this particular area." Another figure worth mentioning is the number of projects in the order portfolio of more than 24 meters: 382 ships in total. This result, in addition to recognizing the leadership of the Italy company led by Ugo Salerno, also reflects the outstanding performance of super and mega yacht production.
This explanation was confirmed by engineer Vezzuto. "The large yacht market is experiencing a strong expansion, a fact that is evidenced by the number of contracts signed: in 2020, 72 cruise ships with a length between 40 and 180 meters were sold, in 2021 this figure increased to 128 (an increase of 78% in one year) and in 2022 to 175. In 2023, sales in this segment reached more than 200 units. In this "niche market", the Italy yachting industry continues to play a leading role with manufacturers from Northern Europe and Turkey. These are the areas where RINA has existed in a systematic way for many years. At the beginning of the 21st century, we were also the first company to introduce specific build standards for the superyacht industry, with a particular focus on sustainability, a priority that has been our main focus and that of the yachting industry in general and in particular for several years. ”
Giosuè Vezzuto
During the Monaco Yacht Show 2022, the launch of the RINA Maxima brand also led to the vigorous development of the mega yacht industry. "This is a suite of services designed and provided specifically for large leisure yachts, i.e. bespoke units with metal hulls. It aims to help designers, manufacturers and shipowners meet the challenges of the future of this industry: decarbonization and digitalization. First, we published a set of standards and specifications for the use of alternative fuels such as methanol and hydrogen on these vessels, as well as different propulsion systems, in particular hybrid, battery and fuel cell systems. On the digital side, we have launched Sertica Yacht, a management optimization software that is comparable in complexity to managing a real company for a fleet of yachts of this size. We developed our software, which we acquired three years ago in Denmark and is now called RINA Digital Solutions.
In addition to decarbonization and digitalization, Maxima is also focusing on comfort issues, which is another key component on this class of vessels. In this case, it is necessary to provide quiet operation without vibrations and, as the latest launch of the service, to be as insensitive as possible to the movement of the boat. To control this aspect, RINA Maxima has now launched a series of guides that will even allow you to assess and measure the acceleration of the boat, which is what causes some passengers to feel so-called "seasickness".
How are they detected?
During the design phase, you run a series of simulations on your computer using fluid dynamics software that predicts the ship's response to the stresses imposed on the ocean. For example, how much the ship will move, or how it will move, whether it is movement or speed, is the most troubling factor. These simulations make it possible to understand how to intervene in order to maximize the effectiveness of the stabilization system installed on board. Once the design is complete, the vessel will be tested in the water, which is the perfect testbed to check the actual situation predicted by the model and make the necessary adjustments. The end result is a certificate of stability issued by Rina. In other words, it is a tool that allows shipbuilders to measure and prove the comfort of their ships.
Is certification a contractual standard?
Yes, in all respects. Stability is the third pillar of a ship's comfort. RINA Maxima has proven its mastery of both technologies of noise and vibration, with particularly remarkable and appreciated results thanks to its professional services. In fact, by using sophisticated analytical tools, RINA Maxima's technicians were able not only to measure the noise and vibration levels recorded during sea trials, but also to identify their source in order to intervene if necessary.
It's only been a little over a year since the launch of the new superyacht service model, how do you evaluate the results?
The results are very positive and satisfying. The response from Italy shipyards has been remarkable. RINA Maxima's services are currently involved in ongoing projects in Permare, Palumbo, Benetti, Baglietto, CRN and Wider. It is also interesting that we are partners with the most important Turkey shipyards, such as Bilgin Yachts, Tersan and Nebula Yacht, who used the full version of Maxima in a 60-meter yacht project.
Since Rina's brand covers many different services, it is clear that each shipyard can choose the most interesting and beneficial service. For some shipyards, we are more focused on decarbonization, while others are focused on comfort or digitalization. To this end, in addition to the aforementioned fleet management software, Maxima pays special attention to the protection against cyberattacks, which is a particularly sensitive issue for superyachts and superyacht owners. To improve security in this area, we have developed a "Cybersecurity and Vulnerability Assessment" package to verify that the ship's communications network is adequately protected from hackers.
Also striking is the announcement made by RINA at the Monaco Boat Show 2023, an important international exhibition reserved for the world of super and mega yachts.
"Given the work we do in this area, it is inevitable that we will have to make a significant investment in Monte Carlo, choosing to participate in the network, while launching new products that we develop with our customers, who we support from a regulatory point of view. This year, we partnered with CRN to breathe life into an innovative PEM (Proton Exchange Membrane) fuel cell system installed on a superyacht in the spirit of sustainability and respect for the environment. After a year and a half of joint research and development, RINA confirms that Ferretti Group's sustainable motor yacht project not only meets the standards and regulations necessary for safe implementation, but is also suitable for correct operation and easy management. ”
What exactly does it do?
The system allows the yacht to be moored for a limited period of time with zero emissions. The main innovation is the process of converting green methanol into hydrogen and using it for fuel cell power generation.
In addition, during the last Monaco Yacht Show, RINA explained its partnership with Meccano Engineering. Meccano, a Trieste-based engineering company, was involved in the Orca 65 project, an ice-class expedition yacht propelled by a blend of diesel and methanol, and RINA was involved in assessing the technical feasibility from a regulatory perspective. The Monaco event is also an opportunity to officially launch the partnership with the SEA Index, a non-profit organization born from the Monaco Yacht Club, whose objective is to accurately assess how green yachts are.
How to use the SEA Index?
Through a series of indices that measure yacht emissions. Our contribution is to study the index of ships with a gross tonnage of more than 500 tons. This, of course, is based on the installed engines and generators, and makes it possible to calculate the amount of carbon dioxide and greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere during operation. This is a tool that already exists for merchant ships, but they operate in a very different mode than yachts, which typically spend only about 20% of their time at sea, 30% at anchor, and the remaining 50% at the marina. Therefore, since it is not possible to correlate the emissions of recreational yachts with their carrying capacity and mileage as a merchant ship does, we have studied an index that takes into account the specific characteristics of recreational yachts in order to make it truly representative of the actual emissions of the yacht.
For more than a year, the green transition and the decarbonization of maritime transport have been at the heart of the agreement signed with the Eni group, with joint initiatives to further strengthen each other's capabilities. "In particular, we are committed to increasing the use of biofuel HVO (hydrogenated vegetable oil) in the maritime industry, as well as other energy sources such as hydrogen or 'blue' or 'green' ammonia, from biologically sourced, renewable or waste that does not compete with the food supply chain".
Since there is currently no real possibility of installing carbon capture devices on leisure yachts to store carbon dioxide, how can greenhouse gas emissions be reduced?
By using alternative low- or zero-carbon fuels, such as hydrogen.
What are the benefits of biofuels?
HVO is a hydrogenated vegetable oil. By adding hydrogen, they can be easily used as fuel. They are called plug-in because they do not require any major changes to the propulsion system, except for fine-tuning the seals along the pipelines of the fuel purification and filtration system. For this reason, HVO is highly valued for its flexibility (the vessel can also run on diesel or biofuel) and the benefits it offers to the crew and guests, as it is colorless and odorless.
When it burns, it neither emits smoke nor emits harmful particles, so it does not pollute the hull, and it is also being quickly adopted in Italy. Currently, it costs two to three times as much as conventional fuels, but it also has the huge advantage of having a net balance of zero CO2. This takes into account the entire cycle of the substance, so the CO2 is present upstream of the waste recycling process.
So what we need to do now is monitor how the use of biofuels is spreading. They also have the advantage of being compatible with existing and new equipment designed and manufactured for methanol, hydrogen, and fuel cells. Fuel cells also follow the general rules of proper and prudent use. Otherwise, we may end up finding the ultimate "green" solution on the market, but the best that could have been achieved could be wasted due to improper operation. "It's like buying the latest A+++ fridge and forgetting to close it."