A view of the Qianwan port area of Qingdao port in Qingdao FTZ. [Photo/VCG]

Italian classification society Registro Italiano Navale (RINA) has established a branch in the Qingdao Area of the China (Shandong) Pilot Free Trade Zone (Qingdao FTZ), further expanding the city's maritime services sector.

With RINA's arrival, nine of the 12 members of the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) now have branches in Qingdao, giving the city the second-largest presence of IACS members in China after Shanghai.

Headquartered in Genoa, Italy, RINA was founded in 1861 and is a founding member of IACS. The company has expanded its operations in China and across Asia since entering the Chinese market in 2009.

The new Qingdao branch will provide technical services for shipbuilding, offshore engineering, and shipping companies. Beyond maritime services, RINA operates in sectors including industry, energy, power, and infrastructure, providing testing, certification, digital services, and other solutions.

Its expertise in decarbonization and energy transition, including hydrogen technologies and hydrogen production using offshore wind power, also aligns with Qingdao's efforts to develop greener and smarter shipping.

The Qingdao FTZ has been expanding its modern shipping services sector, attracting classification societies, ship management companies, supply chain businesses, and other maritime service providers.

It has also introduced services including clean marine fuel bunkering, drone-based supplies for vessels at anchorage, and a digital platform for international marine fuel supply.