The delicate balance between absolute beauty and absolute safety in yachting

What's the right balance between design and safety in the yachting world? It's not always a given that safety is a top priority in this industry. 

SUPER YACHT 24 hosts the opinion and assessments of Captain Rosario Fortuna on this topic in the third chapter of the column on the topics considered most important for the sector – sometimes uncomfortable – which he inspired.

Contribution by Commander Rosario Fortuna

In the world of yachting, where the pursuit of design and elegance is often taken to extremes, the issue of onboard safety, which should be the top priority, is sometimes relegated to the background. Unfortunately, the increase in yachting accidents of various kinds, such as fires, shipwrecks, and collisions, is increasingly highlighting the need to find the right balance between beauty, visibility, practicality, and functionality in terms of safety systems.
I believe that the tragedy that occurred a month ago off Palermo will certainly lead to more attentive shipowners, with a greater awareness of safety and rescue issues on board. As already mentioned, this is evident in the selection of trained crews. Safety issues are sometimes overlooked by shipowners during the purchasing process because they delegate and rely on the multiple stakeholders involved, such as registry bodies, classification societies, management companies, survey technicians, etc.

Last but not least, near the end of construction, when interaction is sometimes no longer possible, the Crew (Captain, Chief Engineer, and Chief Stewardess) emerge, having little to do with an executive project already in the final stages. This is because they must have real sailing experience and be experts in construction and refit work to be able to contribute, otherwise they become inconvenient for everyone!
Anyone who lives and works on a yacht for 320 days will surely have some excellent advice to offer!

While there is much discussion about factors such as the dangers of lithium batteries and the lack of crew preparation due to the lack of time for adequate training – both of which are among the main causes of this worrying trend – there is little discussion, due to their 'sensitive' nature, of equally serious problems that arise precisely from the fact that such a compromise has so far been unwilling or 'unable' to be found.

For example, on yachts, the pursuit of absolute beauty, typical of Italian design, often prevails over the need to make escape routes and rescue equipment clearly visible, practical, and easily accessible, as is the case on passenger and commercial ships.

But with these objects, it's essential to facilitate escape routes by, for example, installing highly visible and easily accessible panic handles. Let's not forget that the panic bar, a safety device first designed and installed in a cinema in 1903, following a fire that killed countless people, was immediately criticized at the time due to its aesthetic appeal, but it has saved and continues to save countless lives. My hope is that this can be reconsidered and a discussion along these lines can begin.

What are the challenges to overcome? Requests for this must first come from shipowners, who alone have the bargaining power to assert their will by renegotiating certain aspects of onboard safety with shipyards.

Today, many boats, if not all, are custom and this means that the owner chooses a beautiful design certainly created by a very talented architect, then the various engineers develop its feasibility and the interiors are born where the Italian designer imprints his own style that distinguishes Italian excellence in all its forms, but it is at this point, unfortunately, that the architects and designers, naturally devoted to maximum beauty, will certainly not be the promoters of solutions that could compromise aesthetics.

Collaboration with those living on board would also be desirable at this juncture... What's needed here is the owner's determination to renegotiate a vessel that will allow him, his family, and his guests to save their lives in difficult times. It will therefore be his responsibility to ensure that escape routes and safety and rescue systems are clearly marked and easily visible and accessible, even at the expense of a little beauty.

But the responsibility for these shortcomings doesn't fall solely on the owners. Captains, surveyors, and certification bodies also have a crucial and responsible role to play. Throughout every phase of a yacht's construction, there are co-responsible parties: the designers, who strive to achieve perfect beauty; the captains, who in some cases do not assert themselves to protect their working relationship; primarily the surveyors, who, as construction managers, should demand this attention; and finally, the certification bodies, and the various inspection bodies, even after delivery. If they encounter critical situations during their periodic surveys, they should at least raise the issue and find the best solution.

In my career, I've often encountered unsafe situations, both internally and externally, and even in the engine room. Many safety equipment and systems are often located in a poorly visible, impractical, and difficult-to-access location!
In general, all safety equipment and systems must be visible to everyone, easily accessible, and practical when needed!

Another key issue concerns paying due attention to the crew's working conditions. Here too, greater awareness among shipowners is needed. Those who work under tight schedules and sometimes in the very confined spaces typical of small yachts must be able to rest regularly, otherwise everyone's safety is at stake. This awareness-raising effort also applies to guests and charter yachts.

When the captain reports certain dangerous situations, he must be listened to. Often, very demanding clients request the unloading of tenders, inflatable jet skis, and various playground-type equipment, even when the sea weather is deteriorating and there isn't enough time to secure everything due to lack of time. Nor can one expect to disembark for dinner in unsafe sea conditions, only to return on board at two or three in the morning or later, especially considering that the various doors must be kept closed in certain conditions, risking serious consequences!

Everyone involved, from shipowners to designers, captains, and certification bodies, must work together to ensure maximum safety on board, without completely sacrificing beauty, but focusing on a few key words: visibility, practicality, and functionality, without neglecting working hours, rules, and hierarchies on board!

The challenge is complex, but it can certainly be improved with everyone's collaboration! This is why I intend to share my experiences and testimonials with the new generation of sailors who will be able to attend the upcoming STWC IMO courses I'll be leading in Livorno. These courses will finally cover the topic of yachting, which until now has been almost completely ignored.

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