RINA Publishes New Lay-Up Guidelines

GENOA-based classification society RINA has published new guidelines to help shipowners identify and secure safe and cost-effective locations to lay up their ships during the current economic downturn.

The guidelines cover various types of lay-up, mooring arrangements, class, insurance, flag and port authority requirements. They also set out the measures which need to be taken in order to ensure that ships are laid up in a safe condition and that proper maintenance is carried out on machinery and systems.

The guidelines provide an overview of the services that RINA can provide to shipowners during the entire lay-up process, and useful information on how to choose the most suitable location for laying up a ship.

Dino Cervetto, Manager of the Technical Function of RINA's Marine Division, says, "As a result of the global economic crisis, and the consequent downturn in the freight markets over the past year, a number of owners have decided to take their ships out of service, and in particular to place them in lay-up. Lay-up can be a complex process. It requires proper planning which covers everything from flag administration requirements to important technical and maintenance issues. It is also essential to define the lay-up period and to choose the best lay-up location available. RINA's guidelines are designed to help owners with the whole process, and to ensure that nothing is left to chance."

A copy of the Guidelines can be either downloaded from www.rina.org, or requested from: [email protected]

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.

RINA has seventy-two offices abroad in thirty-eight countries and forty exclusive offices in Italy and employs around 1,400 exclusive personnel. Through its Marine Division RINA has a classed fleet of over 3,765 ships totalling 25m gt, plus over 1,000 yachts and over 300 special units (military ships, coast guard, police and fire brigade craft).