Class Made Simple: Yacht Surveys, Safety & RINA | Captain’s Chat

Yacht classification can feel complicated from the outside, but at its core it is about safety, preparation, communication, and keeping a vessel operating properly.

In this episode of Captain’s Chat, Captain Liam Devlin sits down with Davide Di Biasi of RINA for a practical conversation about yacht class, surveys, compliance, safety standards, digital tools, and why classification societies should be seen as partners to the vessel rather than obstacles.

Davide explains how class supports captains, engineers, yacht managers, owners, and brokers by helping vessels remain compliant, safe, and prepared for operation. He also discusses why understanding the reason behind the rules matters just as much as meeting the requirement itself.

The conversation covers the importance of preparing for survey windows in advance, communicating with local surveyors, keeping the right rules and documentation available onboard, and avoiding unnecessary surprises, delays, and costs.

Captain Liam and Davide also explore RINA’s long history in maritime, its dedicated yachting expertise, the role of IACS, the process of changing class, and why yacht-specific knowledge matters when working with superyachts.

The episode also looks ahead to future technology in yachting, including nuclear propulsion, alternative energy, digital documentation, Certica Yachting, and how smarter systems can reduce workload onboard.

Topics include:

▪ Yacht classification and compliance
▪ Class surveys and survey preparation
▪ RINA’s role in the yachting sector
▪ IACS and changing class
▪ Safety rules and why they exist
▪ Communication between crew and surveyors
▪ Digital tools for yacht operations
▪ Certica Yachting and RINA Digital
▪ Nuclear propulsion and future yacht technology
▪ How captains and crew can avoid survey surprises

Guest: Davide Di Biasi, RINA
Host: Captain Liam Devlin

🌐 RINA: https://www.rina.org/

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