International classification society RINA has responded to increasing demand for superyachts in the UK and Northern Europe by opening a new plan approval and technical office in the UK specifically to support superyacht designers, naval architects and shipyards.

Paolo Moretti, Yachting Business Manager, RINA, says, “Even during the crisis we have seen strong UK-based yacht builders such as Sunseeker and Princess growing, and they are both investing more and more into the larger sizes of yachts. They choose RINA to class those yachts, and we see growing demand for advice, consultancy, pre-assessment and direct liaison over plan approval for superyachts. That is why we have put two very experienced yacht engineers into a new UK yacht plan approval office. They will be able to help designers and yards cope with the requirements of the new MCA Passenger Yacht Code and the upcoming requirements of ILO MLC2006.”

The new UK yacht plan approval office is currently working from RINA’s Portsmouth office but will move into dedicated premises in Southampton from January 2011. “The staff in the new office will have experience in yacht building yards and production and class requirements. They will be close to the superyacht sector in the UK, and also be well positioned to help designers and yards in Germany, the Netherlands and Scandinavia,” says Moretti.