Oct 3, 2017

The International Council of Marine Industry Associations’ (ICOMIA) Superyacht Refit and Coatings Applicator Groups met on Tuesday 26 September at the Novotel Monte Carlo for their annual superyacht session held prior to the 2017 Monaco Yacht Show.

The Refit Group represents quality refit, repair and maintenance yards, whilst the Applicators Group maintains professional working standards and meet specified environmental best practices in the coatings sector.

In a day-long session, both Groups met separately and together to discuss the top priorities facing the refit and coatings sectors.

Refit Group Welcomes Newest Member – US based BAE Systems:

BAE Systems plc provide some of the world’s most advanced, technology-led defence, aerospace and security solutions and employ a skilled workforce of some 83,100 people in over 40 countries. Its large yacht facility in North Florida is designed to service yachts up to 120 meters and boasts environmentally-controlled indoor shops for machining, pipe repair, carpentry, sheet metal

fabrication and insulation. Plus, a self-contained, environmentally controlled blast and paint facility; a fully-automated steel surface preparation and coating facility; and a steel fabrication facility with numerically controlled plasma cutting system.

The Refit Group also reviewed the latest legislative updates within IMO – including the Ballast Water Management Convention, FRP within ships’ structures, second generation intact stability criteria, 3000 GT mooring operations, non-SOLAS vessels operating in polar waters, Global Maritime Distress and Safety System, reduction of GHG emissions and the NOx Tier III limits.

As well as receiving updates from ICOMIA on current ISO TC 8/SC 12 standards and the new Red Ensign Group Yacht Code, a new consolidated code for regulating the construction and operation of superyachts, which has an expected application date of January 2019 – one year after its publication at The Superyacht Forum held 13-16 November 2017 as part of METSTRADE.

Refit Group members consist of Amico & Co, Astilleros de Mallorca, Compositeworks, Huisfit (Royal Huisman), Lusben, Marina Barcelona 92, Monaco Marine, NCP-Repair Shipyard Šibenik Ltd, Nobiskrug GmbH, Pendennis Shipyard Ltd and BAE Systems.

Applicator Group raises concern over limited insurance providers specialising in coatings sector:

Meanwhile the Applicators Group reviewed the latest in DOI and gloss issues related to inspections and measurements, in particular the problems in benchmarking from visual inspection.

The Applicators also discussed the fact there are a very limited number of insurance providers with the expertise in underwriting and outlining the parameters of how coatings systems could be insured – with some restricting insurance to one paint manufacturer only.

Meanwhile, the joint Group session on environmental legislation covered Isocyanate, Titanium Di-Oxide, Bisphenol and Microplastics – which affect both refit and coatings.

Visit www.superyacht-refit.com or www.icomia.org for more information

The Refit Group can also be found on Facebook www.facebook.com/superyachtrefit