Exclusive from the current HANSA Yachts Magazine: In Turkey and Italy, the classification society RINA leads the market with a share of around 90%. We spoke with Matteo Magherini, Head of North Europe Yachting Centre, about which other European markets are attractive for RINA and the trends shaping the industry.
The classification society RINA is among the world’s leading companies in the field and operates across all segments of the maritime industry, including cruise ships, ferries, offshore vessels, cargo and naval ships. Several dedicated teams strategically positioned around the world focus entirely on the yacht sector. As part of RINA, these hubs benefit from the comprehensive cross-sector expertise of the entire group. In an interview with HANSA Yachts, Matteo Magherini discussed the specific services RINA offers in the yacht segment and the key industry trends shaping the future.
Current trends
Across the wide range of yacht sizes that RINA oversees, the key industry topics remain consistent. “Just like in other sectors, the energy transition is a major focus in the yachting industry. Sustainability is no longer optional—owners and builders are feeling the push to innovate,” says Magherini.
One area seeing rapid development is the onboard energy architecture. “We are seeing many projects exploring alternative propulsion systems, such as hydrogen or methanol-based solutions,” he adds.
To help navigate this shift, RINA conducts feasibility studies and offers advisory services for new technologies. “We don’t just analyze alternatives—we work closely with shipyards and owners to develop tailor-made solutions that fit the operational needs of their vessels,” Magherini explains.
Beyond the choice for the energy carrier, digitalization is also reshaping the industry. As superyachts become more complex, digital tools are improving operational control and efficiency. “A high-performance monitoring platform for key components and performance analysis can help optimize energy consumption,” says Magherini. RINA has adapted its Ship Management and Performance Monitoring System, SERTICA Yacht, from commercial shipping to meet the specific needs of yacht owners.
Looking ahead, Magherini emphasizes that the real challenge will be integrating these innovations seamlessly: “Technology is moving fast, but success depends on how well the industry adapts. The next few years will be crucial in determining which solutions become the new standard for yachting.”
RINA’s core business
The core business of RINA’s yachting hubs is the certification of superyachts, providing essential services throughout a yacht’s entire lifecycle, from the initial regulatory guidance and engineering consulting during the concept phase to ongoing technical support during operation
“For sailing yachts, we also provide certification services for rigs. To support this, RINA has developed its own set of rules, which are part of our comprehensive service offering,” explains Matteo Magherini. “Additionally, RINA plays a key role in the certification process for vessels under 24 meters in length (CE marking) and ensures compliance with various safety codes for commercial operations also in this category.”
RINA Maxima
RINA’s hubs bring together its specialised services for large custom yachts, typically over 50 meters, under the RINA Maxima brand. The dedicated teams focus on large yachts, offering expertise in areas such as decarbonization strategies, noise and vibration reduction, and specialist training for various stakeholders to ensure regulatory compliance. One of the latest value-added services introduced is “Thermally Efficient Yacht”, a voluntary classification notation designed to assess and rank a yacht’s thermal efficiency. “On most yachts, the biggest energy consumer isn’t the propulsion system – it’s the hotel load, particularly the HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) system,” explains Matteo Magherini.
Optimizing thermal efficiency helps reduce fuel consumption, lower operational costs, and minimize environmental impact. Several technologies contribute to this:
- Efficient insulation to reduce heat loss and improve temperature stability.
- Smart HVAC systems that optimize energy use through intelligent controls.
- Waste heat recovery systems that capture excess heat from engines or generators for reuse.
RINA also focuses on enhancing onboard comfort through noise and vibration optimization. The “RINA Comfort Yacht” notation was developed to improve the onboard experience by maximizing the level of comfort. During the design phase, a numerical simulation can be performed thanks to state-of-the-art software. The output is a technical document providing guidance and recommendations to reduce noise and vibration. When the vessel is ready for the sea trials, through the use of the latest measuring technologies, such as acoustic and motion cameras, the Noise & Vibration specialized team can conduct onboard campaigns focusing on the evaluation of the actual performance or investigate of sources for further optimisation. Two recent superyachts that have received the comfort notation are “Anjelif” and “Night Fury 2”, both achieving the highest level of performance.
Growing markets
Beyond Italy, RINA has a strong presence in Turkey, where most locally built superyachts are RINA-classed. According to Magherini, the Turkish market is expanding rapidly—not only in yacht sizes but also in build quality.
As Head of the North Europe Yachting Centre, Magherini also closely monitors northern European markets. In addition to Germany, he sees the Netherlands as particularly dynamic. “The variety of vessel types is remarkable, both above and below 500 GT, combined with a strong drive for innovation,” he notes.
In the UK, Magherini highlights RINA’s strong collaborations with major local superyacht builders, while in Finland, the company continues to build on its expertise in sailing yachts. Poland is another country where the yacht industry is growing quickly, with shipyards producing increasingly larger and more complex yachts together with RINA.
