Intercargo Raises Concerns Over RightShip’s Age Limit Reduction for Vessel Inspections
Intercargo is the international association of dry bulk carriers. It has expressed significant concern about RightShip’s recent decision. This decision involves lowering the age limit of vessels eligible for its vetting inspections. This decision, announced earlier this month, will see the age trigger for dry bulk and general cargo vessels drop from 14 years to 12 years by the end of March 2025, and further to 10 years by March 2026.Original Announcement by Rightship to Trigger for Vessel Inspections to Boost Maritime Safety.
Intercargo’s primary concern centers around the lack of prior consultation with ship owners and managers – the very stakeholders directly impacted by this change. The association emphasizes the need for an inclusive approach to such significant operational decisions, particularly given the already substantial workload faced by seafarers. A sudden shift in inspection requirements could exacerbate existing challenges and potentially compromise safety.
Key Concerns Highlighted by Intercargo:
Lack of Consultation: The decision was made without input from the affected parties, highlighting a lack of transparency and collaboration.
Increased Workload for Seafarers: The tighter timeline for inspections adds to the already heavy workload of seafarers, potentially impacting safety and operational efficiency.
Insufficient Time to Adapt: The rapid implementation timeline does not allow sufficient time for ship operators and crews to adequately adjust to the new requirements.
Intercargo strongly urges RightShip to reconsider its timeline, advocating for a delay that would allow for a more measured and collaborative transition. They emphasize the importance of maintaining high safety and efficiency standards while ensuring a fair and equitable process for all stakeholders. The association reiterates its commitment to working with all parties to ensure a safer, more efficient, and sustainable future for the dry bulk shipping industry.
The implications of RightShip’s decision extend beyond individual companies. It underscores the need for greater transparency and collaboration within the maritime industry when implementing significant changes that directly impact vessel operations and crew welfare. The industry needs to work together to find solutions that balance safety concerns with the practical challenges faced by operators and seafarers.Rightship’s Response to INTERCARGO’S Statement on Inspection Age Trigger Decision:
“RightShip has taken note of INTERCARGO’s recent response regarding our announcement on the reduced age limit for Dry Bulk and General Cargo vessel inspections.
We are encouraged by the understanding across the industry that inspections at a lower age of a vessel are necessary to enhance safety. From our discussions, we see that the industry is moving in the right direction and acknowledge that the primary concern centers around the timing of the implementation rather than the need for the change itself.
As noted in our original press release, the decision is based on clear evidence of risks associated with ageing vessels and was informed by industry dialogue. RightShip would like to clarify that, contrary to INTERCARGO’s suggestion, industry consultations were held globally before making the announcement, including with multiple INTERCARGO members and via workshops with more than 20 ship owners and managers.
While it is not feasible to consult every company in the sector, a broad range of stakeholders, including Charterers, Owners, and Managers were engaged. It remains RightShip’s standard practice to provide six months’ notice for significant changes from the date of announcement, allowing industry participants to budget, plan and execute timely with minimal disruption.
We acknowledge the industry’s need for time to adapt to evolving requirements, which guided our decision to implement a phased approach. The feedback we have received also reinforces the necessity for this change. RightShip strongly believes that vessels of all ages should be held to the same safety standards, and we encourage Owners and Managers to apply those standards across their entire fleet. Our RISQ tool, available for three years, offers valuable guidance in this area..
We are grateful that organisations like INTERCARGO share a common goal of enhancing safety standards across the industry. Together, INTERCARGO and RightShip formed the DryBMS, a framework that allows management companies to benchmark and improve their safety performance, and we aim to continue industry dialogue.
RightShip remains committed to ongoing engagement with the industry, and we will continue supporting Owners & Managers as they navigate this transition. “
