Francesco Ruisi found his calling in the maritime world early in his career, inspired by a strong family legacy at sea.
After more than 12 years at sea, rising to the rank of second engineer, he transitioned ashore and joined LR as a senior surveyor in 2006. His career has since taken him across Asia, the Middle East, and Europe, and in August 2024, he was appointed VP Global Segment Director for Passenger Ships.
He knows and understands the pain points the sector faces and in his new role intends to focus on assisting clients through the energy and digital transitions, as well as ensuring LR continues to deliver exceptional technical services and client care.
“The cruise and ferry sector is important to LR. Right now, we lead in the cruise ship sector with 40% of in-service vessels under our class and more than 37% of the order book built to our class by gross tonnage. We also class nearly a third of the overall cruise ship and ferry sector,” he says.
He is confident that client care and LR’s strong technical knowledge base are central to the organisation’s current and ongoing success in this sector, but he sees room for improvement.
A cornerstone project of Ruisi’s vision is the establishment of a Cruise Centre of Expertise within LR, a global hub designed to offer exceptional technical support and client care.
Launched in April at Seatrade Cruise Global in Miami, the virtual centre brings experts together from various disciplines within LR, including operational specialists, in-service and newbuilding SMEs, plan approval specialists and commercial experts. It enhances global consistency, nurtures innovation, and strengthens LR’s position as a trusted partner for shipowners, operators, and builders, says Ruisi. “By improving the visibility and accessibility of LR’s expertise, the Cruise Ship Centre of Expertise will deliver more streamlined and effective support to clients worldwide.”
While Ruisi recognises the tremendous depth of expertise across LR, he also emphasises the need to capture and share this knowledge more efficiently to better support clients’ strategic decision-making.
As ships become more technologically advanced, and impacted by emerging market trends and geopolitical activities, “We need to bring together the very latest understanding of digital technologies, regulatory requirements and engineering advancements and make it as accessible as possible,” he notes.
Advancing innovation and sustainability
LR also announced a strategic partnership with Royal Caribbean Group at Seatrade Cruise Global, representing a long-term shared commitment to enhancing safety, regulatory compliance, operational efficiency and sustainability across the cruise industry. The partnership aims to set new benchmarks for excellence and environmental responsibility, supported by Royal Caribbean’s transfer of class to LR of more than 25 cruise ships.
The cruise industry continues to grow, with increasing numbers of passengers forecasted and capacity increasing. The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) reported in April last year that there is continued demand for cruise holidays and strong intent to cruise, with 82% of cruisers planning to cruise again. Cruise capacity, meanwhile, is projected to increase by at least 10% between2024 and 2028, with much of this activity driven by the sector’s ambitions to achieve net- zero emissions by 2050.
“More capacity is desirable,” he notes, “but there may not be enough yard capacity to support the sector’s growth and investment plans for low-emissions tonnage.”
Ferries of the future
Ruisi’s plans are firmly grounded in the industry’s evolving needs, particularly on advancing the adoption of alternative propulsion technologies, such as batteries and methanol, which are well-suited to the operational profiles of RoPax (roll-on/roll-off passenger ships) vessels. Here Ruisi sees significant opportunities for LR to support fleet renewal and innovation.
“Local ferries lend themselves particularly well to trialling out future fuels and different forms of propulsion and this is an area where we are particularly strong,” he explains, noting that LR classes two hydrogen-powered passenger ferries ordered by Norwegian transport company Torghatten Nord.
“Ferries operate on defined routes, which makes fuel supply chains much easier to establish. And with often shorter distances covered, this sector opens up opportunities for other forms of propulsion such as battery-, hydrogen- and methanol-powered vessels,” he says. “In many ways they are ideal test beds for future fuels before they enter the global shipping industry on a much bigger scale.”
This, in addition to an ageing fleet, coupled to government commitments to invest in sustainable infrastructure makes the outlook for future fuels in local ferry operations very strong, he asserts.
Ruisi’s commitment to client engagement can be seen in his proactive approach to understanding market dynamics and fostering strong relationships. He believes LR’s success lies in its ability to anticipate and adapt to the needs of clients, ensuring they receive tailored, innovative solutions and exemplary service. Ruisi is dedicated to maintaining LR’s leadership position while driving innovation and sustainability across the maritime sector.
Francesco Ruisi – the journey so far
After finishing school in his hometown of Palermo, Italy, Ruisi joined a local Ro-Pax company as a cadet engineer.
A pivotal moment in Ruisi’s career came when, his vessel docked in Palermo and he noticed a nearby cruise ship, the Costa Marina, and was struck by the contrast between the clean, white uniforms of the engineers aboard the cruise ship and his own oil-stained coveralls. Motivated to pursue new opportunities, he applied to work for Costa Cruises and, within two months, found himself aboard the Costa Marina as a third engineer.
After 12 years at sea, Ruisi moved ashore to work in cruise ship construction. He then joined a class society as a surveyor, further broadening his technical and regulatory expertise. His diverse career also included roles such as superintendent for a chemical tanker company and technical manager for Greenpeace International, where he spent two years. These roles gave Ruisi a comprehensive understanding of different ship types and operational contexts.
Ruisi joined LR in Amsterdam in 2006 as a senior surveyor. His leadership capabilities were quickly spotted, and he was promoted to Senior Surveyor in charge of the Amsterdam office within two years.
In 2009 he took on new challenges in Asia, moving to China to oversee various projects for LR. Over the next decade, he held multiple roles, including Project Manager, Surveyor in Charge for Shanghai Port, and Area Manager overseeing operations in South China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong.
In 2019 Ruisi moved to Dubai to serve as Operations Manager for the Middle East and Africa, managing LR’s operations the region.
Ruisi moved to the Netherlands in 2022 and now considers it home. There he assumed the role of Commercial Manager for the Benelux region, overseeing a wide range of vessel types.
In August 2024, Ruisi was appointed LR’s VP Global Segment Director for Passenger Ships.
In his spare time, he enjoys travel, reading technical books and cooking for friends.
