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International classification society RINA has launched a coordinated range of services to help shipowners save fuel and reduce emissions. There are seven different elements to the services which can be adopted individually or as a complete package.

The seven services are: auditing to ISO 14001 Environmental Management certification; auditing for ISO 50001 Energy Management Certification; development of the SEEMP (Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan); EEDI verification; Energy Saving and Energy Conservation Analysis; Fuel Consumption Data Analysis and Decision Support Solutions and tailored energy saving training courses.

Andrea Cogliolo, head of innovation, RINA Group, said, "All shipowners need some form of assistance and support to cut energy costs. We have a lot of experience working with major passenger ship owners and others to devise energy saving measures, and we know how to implement the ones that work best. Owners can use our services at the level appropriate to them, from simple compliance through to a major re-engineering of how they use energy on ship and ashore. The training complements all that, by ensuring that the people who have to make it all work know what they are doing, and why."

RINA’s auditing services to ISO14001 and 50001 help owners to structure their companies to manage energy efficiently overall. The SEEMP development and implementation and the EEDI verification are aimed at both compliance with IMO requirements and helping to ensure that the compliance results in savings rather than being a cost.

RINA’s Energy Saving and Energy Conservation Analysis is built on an analysis of the vessel’s parameters and a survey visit in service to see how energy is used and what the level of awareness of the crew is towards energy saving. RINA can then recommend changes to procedures or equipment and train the crews to implement them.

RINA’s Fuel Consumption Data Analysis and Decision Support Solutions service goes further and is based on monitoring of the vessel’s fuel consumption in service and a full analysis of how savings can be made.

"What we have found in practice is that the human factor is very important,” said Cogliolo. “You can build in a lot of fuel saving devices but if the crew are not trained and motivated to run the ship efficiently then nothing helps. That is why we see our seventh step, fuel saving training, as a key part of these services to help save fuel."