RINA Secures New Condition-Based Maintenance Agreements

GENOA-based classification society RINA has teamed up with specialist certification services provider SPM Instrument SRL of Italy and the Italian Ship Research Centre CETENA to help cope with an increase in demand for Condition-Based Maintenance (CBM) programmes by RINA clients.

Having issued new CBM rules and guidelines in 2008, RINA has introduced a number of new class notations this year for clients who implement RINA-approved CBM programmes in respect of specific items of onboard machinery and equipment. These cover not only installations critical to ship safety and operation, such as propulsion, electrical plant and fire detection systems, but also other items such as cargo equipment and air-conditioning systems, which are essential to the safe and efficient operation of ships.

Leading Italian tanker operator Finaval and international cruise specialist Costa Crociere are among those companies which have recently committed to implementing CBM programmes covering onboard machinery. SPM Instrument SRL has produced a programme in respect of rotating machinery on board the Finaval vessels Isola Bianca and Isola Blu and, in conjunction with CETENA, has done likewise on board the Costa Crociere cruiseship Costa Pacifica.

Andrea Cogliolo, Manager of the Machinery Sector of RINA's Marine Division, explains, "RINA recognises the need for clients to adopt effective systems, techniques and best practice in terms of Condition-Based Maintenance. CBM provides added value to shipowners by extending the traditional Planned Maintenance Scheme covering machinery to achieve the maximum flexibility whilst enhancing ship safety. This conforms to the concept of continuous improvement set out in ISO 9001 and in the Tanker Management Self Assessment (TMSA) guide for ship operators".

"CBM is based on techniques which have been widely used for some time in land-based industries, such as vibration monitoring and thermography. It offers a more flexible and improved approach to machinery maintenance as well as acting as an additional safety measure able to detect and correct incipient failures. We are greatly encouraged by the interest being shown in our CBM initiatives, and anticipate a continued growth in demand."