RINA, one of Europe's foremost classification societies and certification authorities, has become a corporate member of the Superyacht Eco Association (SEA Index), a consumer-oriented non-profit organisation advocating increased transparency and energy efficiency within the superyacht industry.
Led by the Yacht Club de Monaco and Credit Suisse, the SEA Index was launched in 2020 to provide owners with impartial and third-party-verified tools used to evaluate the environmental impact of their yachts.
According to the Yacht Club de Monaco, this latest collaboration will complement the existing phases of the SEA Index, including Phase III (measuring the energy intensity of yachts above 25 metres) and Phase IV (measuring the energy intensity of yachts ranging from 0 to 24 metres) that were launched earlier this year. Now with the addition of RINA, the SEA Index aims to develop a fuel consumption analysis for yachts exceeding 500 GT and 25 metres in length.
"Innovation is at the core of the yachting industry, and, through it, the sector will succeed in achieving even more sustainable practices. This matches perfectly RINA’s vision and competence in cutting-edge technologies," said Giuseppe Zagaria, the technical director of RINA's Marine Italy division.
His comments were echoed by SEA Index project leader Natalie Quévert, who expressed there was a natural alignment between the guiding principles of both parties. "Slowly but surely, with the help of all our SEA Index members we are lifting the veil of secrecy on vessel consumption and vessel energy intensity. We believe yacht owners have the right to know what they are purchasing, reselling or chartering," said Quévert.