Classification societies Lloyd’s Register (LR), RINA, DNV, Bureau Veritas (BV) and ABS have established the Yacht Safety and Environmental Consortium (YSEC) at the Monaco Yacht Show 2024. Aim is to improve the safety and environmental performance of yachts, promoting and advising on achieving the best practices in the industry.
The yacht sector has a considerable need for a unified consortium of class societies, as yachts are not covered by the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) in the same way other vessels are.
The consortium aims to focus on safety and environmentally conscious behaviour of commercial and pleasure yachts over 24 meters in length. The consortium will utilise the collective expertise of its members to support the yachting industry in tackling challenges during yacht design and operation by promoting best practices in safety and sustainability, and advising on industry standards and fostering collaboration.
Also read: SWZ|Maritime’s September 2024 issue: Superyachts and superdrones
Collective expertise
By leveraging the collective expertise and experience of LR, RINA, DNV, BV, and ABS the consortium will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of yacht safety and environmental performance through increased collaboration.
The group will appoint a chair and vice chair who will serve a term of two years rotating through the YSEC members. The consortium is already collaborating on various environmental indices and guidelines for tonnage calculations and load line assignment.
Also read: Feadship reveals superyacht concept design C
Setting new benchmarks
‘The collaboration is a shared vision that will enable the industry to address safety and environmental challenges more effectively,’ says Engel-Jan de Boer, Global Yacht Segment Director, Lloyd’s Register. ‘By working together, we can set new benchmarks and ensure best practice across the industry.’
Fiorenzo Spadoni, North Europe Marine Senior Director at RINA, adds: ‘The establishment of the YSEC marks a pivotal milestone for the superyacht industry. Promoting safety at sea and protecting the environment are at the heart of our daily operations. These must not be areas of potential misalignment among key stakeholders. A collaborative approach, where the sum is greater than the individual contributions, is the way forward. We are proud to be part of the initial group that has championed the inception of this consortium and remain optimistic about the future of the industry.’
Picture: The Yacht Safety and Environmental Consortium was formally unveiled at the Monaco Yacht Show 2024. From left to right: Daniele Bottino, ABS Manager, Regional Business Development, Fiorenzo Spadoni, North Europe Marine Senior Director at RINA, Martin Richter, Ship Type Expert Yachts, DNV Maritime, Dubravka Zaja, Shiptype Manager Yachts (the Netherlands) at Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore, and Engel-Jan de Boer, Global Yacht Segment Director, Lloyd’s Register.
Also read: Wind-assisted ship propulsion nears tipping point for rapid adoption
