A recent decision by RightShip to reduce the age limit of bulk carriers eligible for vetting inspections to 10 years, from the previous 14 years, has caused concern among INTERCARGO’s members.
At the Association’s Executive Committee meeting held in London on 15th October it was asserted that the decision was made by RightShip without prior consultation with the owners and managers of bulk carriers, who were the very stakeholders who would be impacted by such changes.
INTERCARGO said that “while we fully support efforts to enhance safety and quality standards across the industry, we believe that significant operational decisions, such as this, should involve input from all relevant stakeholders. An inclusive approach ensures a fair and measured process, giving the industry the necessary time to adapt – especially in light of the significant operational challenges faced by seafarers, who have already expressed serious concerns over the increasing workload”.
INTERCARGO said that “in light of these issues, we strongly urge RightShip to reconsider the timeline for implementing this decision, particularly as the current vetting inspection regime was only introduced two years ago. A delay in applying the new age limit would allow ship operators and seafarers sufficient time to adjust to the evolving requirements, while upholding the high standards of safety and efficiency that are essential to our industry”.
From the end of March next year, RightShip’s age trigger for the inspection of dry bulk and general cargo vessels will change from 14 to 12 years, moving to 10 years in March 2026.
Christopher Saunders, chief maritime officer at RightShip , said that “our decision to lower the inspection age from 14 to 10 years, in a phased approach, reflects the desire from stakeholders for more physical inspections of vessels to counter challenges the dry sector faces in achieving operational excellence. This change reflects our commitment to raising safety standards globally and comes at a critical time as the global dry bulk fleet now averages 14.7 years in age and will continue to rise”.
RightShip noted that its data showed that the dry bulk sector lagged other sectors in critical safety metrics. It said that bulk carriers experienced the highest incident ratio (1.49%), followed by oil (0.96%) and LNG (0.89%). Fatalities also were more prevalent in dry bulk, showing a 0.42% fatality ratio, three times the levels of LNG and LPG vessels (0.14%). Finally, RightShip said that bulk carriers had a Port State Control detention ratio of 4.69%, which was four times higher than that of oil tankers.
RightShip said that its analysis indicated a strong correlation between the age of bulk carriers and general cargo vessels and increased safety risks, particularly after vessels exceed 10 years of age.
“As we navigate the challenges associated with an ageing fleet, we must collectively strive for safety and transparency across the shipping industry,” said Steen Lund, CEO of RightShip.