RINA surveyors on board detained cruise ship

RINA has confirmed that, contrary to some reports, it is not responsible for fully certifying the cruise ship Ocean Glory 1, but is only responsible for classification of the vessel. The vessel has been detained in the UK port of Dover by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, which has confirmed that none of the deficiencies relating to the detention meet the criteria for class responsibility. The vessel has been classed with RINA for more than thirty years, having originally been entered as the Enrico C. But RINA confirms that responsibility for issuing the vessel's statutory certification, including its Safety Management Certificate, was delegated to another agency by the vessel's flag state authority, Panama. Nor is RINA responsible for the vessel's ISM certification. Although the detainable deficiencies are not allocated to class, RINA's surveyors are currently on board the vessel at Dover, with instructions to ensure that any SMC-related deficiencies have not impacted on the vessel's classification status. RINA is anxious to co-operate with those responsible for ensuring that the deficiencies are rectified to the satisfaction of the relevant authorities. A spokesman for RINA said it is incumbent on class in such instances to adopt a proactive attitude to safety, even though the deficiencies for which a vessel may have been detained are not class-related.