UMBERTO Masucci has been appointed chairman of the Technical Committee of Registro Italiano Navale, the body which has responsibility for the rules of leading classification society RINA.. Mr Masucci has extensive knowledge of the shipping industry and is the current chairman of the Ship and Aircraft Brokers and Agents Fund, FAMA.
The following have also been confirmed as members of the committee: Antonio Campanile, Professor of Offshore Structures, University of Napoli; Aldo Cosentino, Director General, Nature Conservation, Ministry of the Environment; Giuseppe Demofonti, Senior Scientist in Mechanical Metallurgy, Materials Development Centre (CSM); Filippo Grassia, Chairman, Research Area for Genova of the National Research Council; Giorgio La Valle, CEO Marine Engineering Services (MES); Roberto Martinoli, Executive Vice President Apollo Management LP; Luigi Matarazzo, Manager, Functional Design and Innovation Sector, Fincantieri SpA.; Captain Bruno SPANGHERO, Head of the Italian Navy General Staff Design Section.
At a meeting on June 10, the technical committee discussed a number of innovations relating to the RINA Rules for the classification of ships, including two new additional notations:
l Winterization – for ships able to operate in geographical areas characterised by extremely low temperatures (generally below -30°C);
l ILODESIGN – for ships having accommodation and other spaces and arrangements for crew complying with the requirements of the Marine Labour Convention 2006;
Other items discussed included updating of the rules for the classification of yachts designed for commercial use, and the new Guide for the Ship Condition Assessment Programme (CAP) for yachts.
The new RINA Rules 2009 will enter into force in two stages – on July 1, 2008, and January 1, 2009 – and will be available for viewing, prior to July 1, 2008, on the RINA website at www.rina.org
l RINA SpA is the operational company of Registro Italiano Navale, founded in Genoa in 1861, and is one of the oldest classification societies and one of the ten most important in the world. Throughout its history, RINA has progressively diversified its activities, transferring the skills acquired and consolidated in the marine industries to other sectors, covering quality, environmental and product management system certification, social accountability certification and advanced services for industry.
l RINA has ninety offices in over thirty countries and employs around 1,100 exclusive personnel. Through its Marine Division RINA has a classed fleet of over 3,360 ships totalling 21.5m gt, plus over 1,000 yachts and over 300 special units (military ships, coast guard, police and fire brigade craft). It is a world leader in passenger ship classification.
