Wood Forever Pact: New Criteria for RINA Green Plus Yacht

A Monaco yacht show dedicated to the Green philosophy through numerous initiatives aimed at boosting environmental awareness in the world of pleasure craft.

On Saturday 28 September, aboard the 55-meter Ocean Paradise built by Benetti shipyards, an event was held which left a notable green footprint on the decks of the super yachts: leading classification company RINA Services and the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation joined forces to promote the sustainable use of wood in the yachting industry.

Signed by Ugo Salerno, RINA Group CEO and Chairman, and by the CEO and vice-president of the Foundation, Bernard Fautrier, in the presence of Prince Albert II of Monaco, in addition to other joint initiatives for increasing global awareness on the part of yachting in protecting the environment, the agreement foresees the incorporation of the Wood Forever Pact into the evaluation criteria for assigning the now-famous environmental notation Green Plus RINA. Present at the event were the President of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayez, the Minister for Tourism of Mauritius, Karl Mootosamy, and the Italian Ambassador in Monte Carlo, Antonio Morabito, as well as Benetti CEO Vincenzo Poerio and the President of the Azimut Benetti Group, Paolo Vitelli.

Yacht builders who sign up to the pact agree to put in place a responsible purchasing policy for wood used in yacht construction and so contribute to combating deforestation and improving living conditions for local communities. RINA recognises that contribution to sustainability and environmental mitigation in its assessment of the Green Plus index of vessels built by members of the Wood Forever Pact.

RINA’s Green Plus Yacht is a voluntary Class Notation based on an environmental performance index which covers all aspects of the vessel’s impact on the environment, including carbon emissions. The Class Notation is granted to vessels which make a significant investment in design solutions, onboard equipment, and operational procedures which contribute to lowering emissions beyond the minimum levels required by international regulation on environmental protection.

In June 2006, HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco decided to set up his Foundation in order to address the alarming threats hanging over our planet’s environment. The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation works for the protection of the environment and the promotion of sustainable development. The Foundation supports initiatives conducted by public and private organisations within the fields of research, technological innovation and activities to raise awareness of the social issues at stake. It funds projects in three main geographical regions: the Mediterranean Basin, the Polar Regions and the Least Developed Countries. The Foundation’s efforts focus on three main sectors: Climate change and renewable energies, biodiversity, and integrated and sustainable water management together with the fight against desertification.

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