THE maritime industry is at a pivotal point. Geopolitical disruption, tightening environmental regulation, and fast-changing technology are redefining the expectations placed on shipowners and classification societies alike.

Italian classification society RINA says digitalisation is the key to helping shipowners stay competitive, compliant, and efficient amid growing complexity.

“Our commitment lies in delivering not just tools, but trust: solutions that combine deep maritime expertise with the latest in digital innovation,” says Alessandro Pescetto, Marine Digital and Class Solutions Operations Director, RINA.

Supporting Shipowners with Integrated Digital Solutions

At the core of RINA’s offering is the SERTICA digital platform for technical ship management which integrates modules for maintenance, procurement, safety, crewing, reporting, performance analysis, and electronic logbooks.

“However, our role goes beyond software delivery,” says Pescetto. “We offer end-to-end support, including expert consultancy and performance analytics. This is particularly valuable for shipowners lacking dedicated technical teams. Our goal is to enable smarter, more transparent operations that anticipate rather than merely react to regulatory and commercial pressures.”

In parallel, RINA is evolving the experience of classification itself: its Leonardo platform suite includes Leonardo Ship, the society’s internal survey and certification repository, and a soon-to-be-launched new customer-facing platform that enables shipowners to interact with RINA in a more dynamic, user-led environment. Whether requesting surveys or monitoring compliance status, clients will move from being passive recipients to becoming active participants in the classification process.

Data-Driven Verification and Real-Time Transparency

As emission-related regulations multiply, from the EU ETS and FuelEU Maritime to IMO’s CII and DCS schemes, the need for fast, reliable data verification is more urgent than ever. Historically, this has been handled annually. Increasingly, however, the market is demanding voyage-level transparency, particularly from charterers, insurers, and financiers.

Pescetto says: “To meet that demand, we created Leonardo Emissions, our emissions verification platform. It integrates directly with SERTICA and other third-party systems, verifying fuel consumption and voyage data in near real time. This represents a fundamental shift; moving from scheduled checks to a continuous, responsive process built on accuracy, speed, and interoperability.

“We are also leveraging performance models and Automatic Identification System (AIS)-based insights to detect anomalies in reported data. These tools not only flag discrepancies but also help benchmark vessel performance, detect hull degradation, and support planning for dry-docking or cleaning.”

Investing in Innovation and Securing the Digital Future

Through its internal AI Factory, RINA is exploring how artificial intelligence and machine learning can support both internal workflows and customer-facing services. For example, the society is developing generative AI tools to help automate the review of ISM manuals, allowing human experts to focus on critical decisions while reducing administrative workload.

“Our ‘Chat with Your Data’ initiative enables conversational access to operational information: replacing static dashboards with flexible, query-based analysis. This gives operators greater control over their data, without the need for business intelligence specialists,” says Pescetto.

“As vessels become more digitally connected, cybersecurity is also central to our mission. We are fully aligned with IACS’ (International Association of Classification Societies) Unified Requirements and offer certification for our own and third-party platforms. Cybersecurity cannot be an afterthought — it must be embedded into every layer of maritime digital infrastructure.”

Digitalisation also plays a crucial role in decarbonisation. For alternative fuels like biofuels to be accepted under new regulations, they must be accompanied by verified proof of sustainability: tracking emissions from well to wake. RINA’s digital platforms ensure that information is captured, verified, and shareable across the maritime value chain.

“At RINA, we see digital innovation not as a trend but as a responsibility. We are here to help with trusted solutions that meet today’s demands and anticipate tomorrow’s challenges. Our mission is to support shipowners with the tools, expertise, and insight they need to navigate a complex future with confidence,” Pescetto summarises.