RINA’s independent design assessment validates Survitec’s Seahaven as IMO-compliant

An independent design assessment by RINA confirms Survitec’s Seahaven, the world’s largest inflatable lifeboat, meets key International Maritime Organisation (IMO) safety standards.

This validation reinforces Seahaven’s position as the next generation of inflatable lifeboat technology, purpose-built for passenger vessels, setting a new benchmark in maritime safety.

RINA conducted multiple reviews in accordance with its own standards, IMO Resolution A.520(13), and the IMO Sub-Committee on Ship Systems and Equipment (SSE) Goal-Based Standards. The reviews concluded Seahaven is operationally ready and appropriate for survival, detection, and retrieval and meets the intent and expectations of IMO safety standards with precision, transparency, and technical rigour.

Seahaven has completed a series of performance tests to validate its capabilities as a self-propelled survival craft, evacuation passage, and launching system. These tests ensured compliance with standards related to environmental performance, overload conditions, capacity, sea trials, and reliability.

Claude Sada, Chief Operating Officer, Survitec, said, “Independent assessments from leading classification societies, including RINA’s design assessment, confirm Seahaven as a novel, IMO aligned life saving appliance under Resolution A.520(13). Engineered to evacuate up to 1,060 people in under 22 minutes, Seahaven sets a future-ready benchmark for compliant evacuation on next-generation cruise ships.”

Piero Moncheroni, Passenger Ships Principal Engineer, at RINA, added, “The recognition of Survitec’s Seahaven system marks an important milestone in the evolution of maritime safety culture. This innovative solution redefines the concept of lifesaving appliances, introducing advanced features that are fully aligned with regulatory objectives and seamlessly integrated into modern ship design. It represents a forward-looking approach that bridges tradition with technological progress, enhancing safety standards across the industry.”

Sada added, “For over a century, we’ve been Trusted to Protect Lives, and Seahaven turns that purpose into operator advantage: safer, simpler evacuations, alignment with IMO standards, and the ability to unlock high-yield deck space for new revenue and a better guest experience. It’s not just an advance in Survival Technology; it’s a strategic lever for safety, compliance and profitability.”