The biggest project in Italy’s PNRR (€1.3bn) 

RINA is providing Project Management Consultancy (PMC) services for the design, construction and commissioning of a new breakwater in the Port of Genoa. The breakwater will be approximately 450 m beyond the current barrier to ensure direct access for ultra-large ships and provide a large turning basin for these vessels to safely manoeuvre within the new port basin. The construction will consist of 100 reinforced concrete cellular caissons filled with granular material set on a rock basement. It will rest on an underwater foundation with varying depths up to 50m below water, making it one of the deepest breakwaters in the world. In addition, the project is expected to include the construction of a new outer breakwater and partial demolition of the existing inner breakwater, to be carried out without interruption to port operations. The scale and complexity of the breakwater make it a unique project at a worldwide level. RINA is providing a 360-degree, multidisciplinary team to support the client throughout all project phases with activities including design review of the entire project and supervision of works. The scope also incorporates non-engineering expertise in areas such as environmental, regulatory, legal, and financial. 

The first and largest bridge assessment project in Italy applying new Italian Codes for Monitoring and Assessment of Road Bridges (LLGG2022)  

RINA is providing highly skilled civil engineers to carry out structural and geotechnical investigations and to develop finite element models (FEM) to assess the structural conditions of bridges and viaducts on the Italian highway system. The scope of the project covers a large portfolio of bridges built with varying construction techniques and includes destructive and non-destructive testing and seismic assessments. The goal of the project is to ensure safety, verify the need to retrofit bridges and define the most effective solution. It is based on new procedures (LLGG2020) for the assessment of road bridges, which assess load rating capacity and seismic vulnerability. The codes applicable to the project are state-of-the-art in terms of bridge inspection and assessment and present a possible service that could also be applied in other countries.

A state-of-the-art building housing the largest anechoic chamber in Europe

The new European Space Agency (ESA) ESTEC campus in Noordwijk near Amsterdam will be designed to meet complex and highly technical requirements with state-of-the-art features, including high-performance foundations, high-level vibration absorption; high-tech cleanroom environments; specific lighting, acoustic comfort, ventilation, heating and cooling conditions, utilities including emergency power, compressed air, liquid nitrogen, and fire suppression systems, and a healthy, safe, secure working environment. RINA is providing Project Management Consultancy (PMC) services, construction supervision, and commissioning activities for the campus with experienced project managers and specific skills in construction supervision and quality assurance. The building will accommodate the largest European anechoic chamber and become the largest satellite test facility ever built in Europe. The campus is fully BIM engineered and designed in accordance with strict Dutch environmental requirements. The project is scheduled for completion before autumn 2024, and timescales are critical as ESA has already booked the anechoic chamber for tests at this time. RINA completed the detailed building design in 2022 and is using the same project team for the subsequent phases of the project to ensure continuity.

A single, integrated, highly technological facility for modern child healthcare

RINA is providing project management, design review, work supervision, HSE and quality check services for the construction of Padiglione Zero, a new state-of-the-art building for intensive care, along with the renovation of Padigilioni 15, 16, 17, 18 and 6. The project aims to centralise the institute’s healthcare activities in a single, integrated, high-technology centre based on an innovative organisation model incorporating Care Platforms and homogenous departmental areas organised according to care intensity and technological complexity in line with international standards. The project is part of Italy’s PNRR and must meet strict targets and milestones to ensure access to the funds. The construction phase must ensure health continuity with the progressive transfer of departments from existing pavilions to new ones without the need for further transitory transfers. RINA PMC must ensure exceptional quality in terms of meeting customer needs and compliance with agreed timescales for this complex project. The project will be fully BIM engineered, including design, verification, construction, work supervision (4D and 5D) and facility management (6D). The new building will be NZEB and LEED Gold certified, and the resulting campus will be one of the leading Children’s hospitals in Italy and Europe.

Technical and economic feasibility studies for a new cruise terminal that will safeguard the Venice Lagoon  

The Venice Marghera Cruise Terminal is part of interventions to safeguard the Venice Lagoon, allowing two 300m cruise ships to serve the area without entering Venice city centre. It is located in the Canale Industriale Nord in Marghera and is accessible through Malamocco Marghera Channel. RINA is providing technical and economic feasibility studies, which cover:
- Access of the cruise ships to the channel through real-time navigation simulation
- In situ geotechnical and environmental surveys 
- 300m berth refurbishment and ~350m new combi wall berth design
- Preliminary design of shore power connection
- A dredging project to allow the design ships to enter the channel
- Capping, paving and viability of ground areas
- Demolition and disposal of the crane, walls and MV cabin present in the project area
- Green areas and fence construction
- Hydraulic systems and other facilities
- A precast building used as a temporary terminal, serving one ship that will moor at the existing quay in the first phase of the construction project
- Two-floor terminal building design.
The project is in an area with strong industrial development and includes the expropriation of private land and environmental mitigation measures. RINA is fulfilling project needs using a multidisciplinary team, including architects, dredging specialists, surveyors, environmental experts, logistics experts, archaeologists, ISPS experts, and environmental structural, geotechnical, transport, maritime, and utility engineers. The project is further supported using innovative technology such as drones and BIM. It is scheduled for completion in May 2023. 

Urban Regeneration in Brescia

RINA is providing building design; project coordination; BIM management; structural, geotechnical, environmental and hydraulic frameworks; road design, construction supervision, and health and safety services for the re-functionalisation of the compendium “Ex Caserma Papa”, located in Brescia. The project will see the relocation of State Administrations in line with the planning and territorial development guidelines of the Municipality of Brescia. The area covers around 39,000m2 and includes several unused military buildings. Four buildings will be subject to consolidation interventions, while others will be demolished. New buildings will include GdE housing and underground parking, Motorisation Offices, Customs Offices, and a Motorisation Hangar. The current site is highly polluted, requiring environmental mitigation measures before the introduction of new buildings. The project also requires the expropriation of some private areas.  The project will be fully developed within BIM and is proposed as a pilot project for digital twin-building strategies within the European framework. It represents a combination of innovation and design in urban regeneration and identifies RINA as one of the leading players in this area. 

Alleviating pressures on traffic in the city of Genoa   

The new Genoa underwater tunnel will provide a crossing of the internal basin in the Port of Genoa with twin tunnels, each with three 3.4 km road lanes and relative interconnecting sections with the motorway junction and city road networks to the west and east of the city. In partnership with Tecne, RINA is developing preliminary and detailed engineering. The tunnels will increase the efficiency with which traffic can cross the city. The existing elevated road, built in the 1960s, no longer meets the traffic needs of the system. RINA is providing road and tunnel design expertise, and the project reflects RINA’s position as a principal engineering society for infrastructure. 

Adapting the old to meet the needs of the future  

RINA is providing structural design, BIM coordination, environmental assessment and health and safety services for all preliminary, definitive and execution design phases of an urban regeneration project on the site of an abandoned air force site in Cagliari. Buildings on the current site were constructed at different times, going back to as early as the 1940s. 
The project includes: 
- conservation of buildings with historical testimonial value with structural and functional adjustment 
- demolition of non-functional buildings 
- construction of a new building that leans against the former Command Warehouse building to extend it and incorporate the former Warehouses, Washing Station and Troop building 
- a multi-storey car park respecting the area of the former Magazzini building c.d. English hangars. 
Urban regeneration at the site gives the opportunity to re-think architecture while respecting the archaeological pre-existence emphasised by the landscape. It allows us to take into account community needs and the attractiveness of the area beyond functional needs. 

Meeting growing food demand and improving food safety  

The wholesale markets sector in Egypt is facing huge challenges with outdated regulations, tariffs, fees and fines, and poor maintenance and management of existing wholesale markets, resulting in increased waste and poor food safety. RINA is providing technical, financial and legal assistance for a feasibility study for the greenfield development of wholesale markets in Ismailia and Sharkeya. The project is based on a technical assistance programme for the development of such areas in Egypt, financed by Agence Française de Développement (AFD). The programme is aimed at providing the Government with key recommendations for food supply, quality, and leveraging of food products and logistics for the wholesale trade of fresh products.  
As part of the technical feasibility assessment, RINA is evaluating environmental and social impact in accordance with Egyptian legislation and the World Bank’s Environmental and Social Framework (ESF, 2018). It is also preparing a preliminary Stakeholder Engagement and Gender Action plan to promote gender equality. The RINA team consists of a combination of local consultants who are carrying out necessary on-site work, supported by international experts who provide specific knowledge and experience in areas such as feasibility studies, agribusiness and quality assurance. 
The overall project objectives include meeting food demands, guaranteeing food safety and security, reducing food waste, and stabilising the pricing of basic commodities. The project will be a template for further investments for the development of the wholesale market network throughout Egypt. 

Reducing mobility carbon footprint and adding socio-economic benefits   

As part of its strategy to reduce the carbon footprint of urban transport in Da Conseil Exécutif des Transports Urbains de Dakar (CETUD) is looking at projects to improve environmental performance and the introduction of alternative energy sources for its bus fleet, in this case, a biofuel derived from waste and residues. This project offers many benefits in terms of reduced environmental impact, energy self-sufficiency, and social and economic benefits for associated agriculture and rural areas. 
In an ongoing project commencing January 2022, RINA is providing stakeholder engagement techniques and a team of high-level experts with the necessary technical and personal skills (communication, interpersonal skills, synthesis, pedagogy) to make the project a success. It is providing a strategic approach based on international best practices and its knowledge and experience relating to export promotion, market research, and access to foreign markets. 
The project will consider various biofuel options based on local resources, technological options, logistics, regulatory requirements, business models, socio-economic benefits, local impact, and fuel production options. It will form a range of recommendations based on multi-criteria analysis, financial analysis with sensitivity tests based on a complete financial model for first-phase biofuel production, and identify and engage stakeholders.

An urban transit network to reduce pollution and traffic density   

The Kingdom of Bahrain’s 2030 strategic vision includes the development of a high-quality public transport system to promote growth and development. To achieve this vision, the Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications (MTT) is planning a 109 km rail-based urban transit network, which will be constructed in phases. During 2022, RINA provided consultancy services for the development of the preliminary design of phase 1B of the Bahrain metro, with a team of engineers with deep knowledge of standards and regulations and their application in international railway projects. The overall project is intended to reduce the number of cars on the road, reducing traffic density and pollution. 
The development of the metro needs to minimise interference with motorway traffic, consider the presence of the UNESCO heritage site, the necropolis of 'A´Ali West Burial Mounds Field', and mitigate the impact on the environment and landscape of the royal residence. The line and the service are designed to optimise journey times with a metropolitan service and a special service that directly connects the railway station with the exhibition area and the Formula 1 circuit.  
The first phase starts with two lines with an estimated length of around 29 km and 20 stations with two interchanges. The lines connect key transit points, including the airport and major residential, commercial, and educational areas. Phase 1 A extends the Red Line from Seef to the proposed King Hamad International Railway Station near Ramli Area. Phase 1B extends this, connecting three main catchment points: King Hamad International Railway Station, University of Bahrain, and Bahrain International Circuit. 

Upgrade to state-of-the-art CBI signalling to increase the safety, reliability and availability of existing rail networks

Ferrovie Nord is the fourth rail operator in Italy, with an overall network length of about 400km. The project encompasses the replacement of the existing Electromechanical Interlocking system with a Computer Based Interlocking (CBI) system of three lines on the network.  RINA is providing a multidisciplinary team with knowledge of signalling systems and design management to cover all necessary technical activities for the design of the CBI for the Milan railway node. Covering almost all of the Ferrovie Nord Network, the upgrade of the interlocking system to the latest technology is a fundamental step in guaranteeing a safe and reliable service and increasing the availability of the network. 

The first high-speed, electrified rail line in Egypt will increase mobility efficiency and reduce carbon emissions

The 660 km high-speed Green Line connects El Ain El Sokhna City on the Red Sea Coast to Marsa Matrouh on the Mediterranean Coast. RINA is providing preliminary design services for the telecommunications systems, which provide real-time traffic information, security for passengers, data retrieval and analysis for operators, and emergency communications, as well as supporting efficient operation of the station and management of the control system.  The project is Egypt’s first high-speed rail system, and the fully electrified line will reduce carbon emissions. RINA is providing an international team of engineers with experience in high-speed railways, railway telecommunication systems and cyber security. 

In a project commencing in 2022, RINA is developing detailed project reporting, starting from the available feasibility study, for a proposed metro rail corridor from Dommasandra Circle (Sarjapur Road) to Hebbal. Based on the urban growth and growing IT and ITeS industries in and around Sarjapur village, the BMRCL/Government of Karnataka (GoK) is looking to extend the corridor from Dommasandra Circle (Sarjapur Road) to Sarjapur village. The line is 37 km long with 29 Stations. The metro will reduce traffic congestion in Bengaluru and is part of the Bengaluru Comprehensive Mobility Plan (CMP). RINA is providing a multidisciplinary team with experience in transport planning, intermodal integration, and cost-benefit analysis to support the client in all areas of the metro project. It is a strong reference for RINA as an international engineering firm in India’s market. 

A new approach to civil engineering and structural health monitoring

Civionics is an innovative and emerging discipline that combines electronic engineering with civil engineering. Its main application area is structural health monitoring (SHM) of civil structures, particularly photonics (Fibre Optic Sensors).  During 2022, RINA has implemented innovative civionic-based remote monitoring approaches worldwide. Projects have covered different types of assets, including existing and under-construction transport infrastructures, such as bridges or tunnels; buildings; cultural heritages; smart road pavements; nature-based coastal erosion protection systems, and marine and port environments. Solutions have been based on both local and distributed remote monitoring technologies using a wide range of sensor types, including fibre optic, acoustic, mechanical, and electrical. Civionic-based remote monitoring approaches are beneficial for both engineers and asset owners. They optimise design techniques and provide an understanding of asset performance, behaviour and state of health while in operation The approach facilitates condition-based maintenance, giving significant potential to increase overall efficiency and safety for workers and end-users and reduce management costs.  The successful integration of intelligent sensing approaches in smart structures and infrastructures can promote the introduction of modern design concepts and new innovations in civil engineering.  

RINA, together with DBA PRO. S.p.A, Galileo Engineering e C.& G. Engineering Services Srl, has been awarded the contract for the technical and economic feasibility study to verify the feasibility of cold ironing for eight berths currently under development in the port of Civitavecchia. The tender is managed by the Port Authority of the Central-Northern Tyrrhenian Sea and has the objective of accessing funds available through the national PNNR, requiring reduced carbon emission levels as defined by the European Union for the construction of cold ironing plants.  The design service will integrate a reorganisation and rationalisation of the port electricity supply system, providing a management system specifically designed to address and monitor the high power levels within the port's operations. The first phase involves the design of the electricity supply on the quay, which is required to meet the power demands of at least two large cruise ships at the cruise terminal and two new generation ferries moored in the ferry dock.  The second phase involves the design of the electrification system for a further four berths inside the ferry dock to electrify all existing mooring fronts throughout the year. The resulting system will help to eliminate the emissions from auxiliary engines when vessels are at berth, producing significant environmental gains for the port’s operations.