A RightShip inspection becomes a vetting requirement from 20 January 2027 for every dry bulk and general cargo ship aged 10.5 years or more from delivery. Without a valid inspection the ship's Safety Score drops to 2 out of 5 and it cannot pass a RightShip vetting nomination. Inspections now follow RISQ 3.2, which asks for objective evidence, not statements.
The final phase of RightShip's age trigger falls on 20 January 2027. Many ships delivered in 2016 will need their first RightShip inspection, and the evidence it asks for takes months to build.
What is the RightShip inspection age trigger?
The age trigger is the vessel age at which RightShip requires a valid RightShip inspection for vetting. RightShip announced in December 2024 that it would bring the trigger down from 14 years in four phases. It moved Phases 2 to 4 to single implementation dates on 26 November 2025 and revised Phase 4 on 26 May 2026. The schedule now stands as follows:
| Phase | Vessel age from delivery | Implementation | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 | 13 years | Window from 1 July to 1 October 2025 | Completed |
| Phase 2 | 12 years | 1 April 2026 | Single date, no window |
| Phase 3 | 11 years | 1 July 2026 | Single date, no window |
| Phase 4 | 10.5 years | 20 January 2027 | Changed on 26 May 2026 from 10 years on 1 January 2027 |
RightShip calculates age from the date of delivery and shows it on its platform to one decimal place. From each implementation date, a ship at or above the age without an acceptable inspection needs a valid one to pass a RightShip vetting nomination. Its Safety Score drops to 2 out of 5 under the hybrid rule when it reaches the age, or on the implementation date if it is already older. The charterer still decides whether to fix the ship.
RightShip changed Phase 4 after industry feedback that a 10-year requirement could clash with the second special survey dry docking. Raising the age to 10.5 years gives ships time to complete that docking before the inspection.
Which ships does the RightShip inspection trigger catch on 20 January 2027?
On 20 January 2027 the trigger catches dry bulk and general cargo ships aged between 10.5 and 11 years, which means ships delivered between about late January and late July 2016. Older ships were already caught by Phase 3. After that date, each ship comes into scope as it reaches 10.5 years from delivery, so later 2016 and 2017 deliveries follow through 2027.
RightShip has also said that ships under 8,000 DWT in these categories will need a similar inspection. Check each ship's age and inspection status on the RightShip platform, not from memory of the build year.
What changed in RightShip RISQ 3.2?
RISQ 3.2 is the November 2025 revision of the RightShip Inspection Ship Questionnaire, used for all RightShip inspections by 25 February 2026 according to SAFETY4SEA. RightShip says the revision:
- makes more than 150 adjustments across the questionnaire;
- consolidates or removes 30 questions;
- should reduce overall inspection time by about 2 hours;
- draws on 22 maritime associations and more than 240 unique inputs from owners, managers, inspectors and technical experts.
The changes cover training, navigation, ISM processes, machinery spaces, pollution prevention, cargo and mooring. Examples include a section on RightShip-approved training approaches, in which an IMO model course must be used where one exists. Others are a combined permit to work, lock-out/tag-out and Stop Work Authority question (4.8), and six-monthly hatch cover clearance measurements (guidance to 9.2).
How does a RISQ inspection judge evidence?
A RISQ inspection judges each question on objective evidence. The RISQ 3.2 questionnaire tells inspectors that the word of ship staff alone is not enough. A crew member's familiarity with a task, and their ability to show it, counts as objective evidence.
In practice, a ship with a sound SMS can still collect findings if the crew cannot show what the procedure requires. Three questions show the pattern:
- Question 2.5: whether all personnel keep their rest periods and whether the records comply with the rules.
- Question 3.23: whether the berth-to-berth passage plan for the previous voyage was complete and approved by the Master.
- Question 10.5: whether there is a procedure for testing the winch brake rendering setting and whether it is tested regularly.
The office is assessed too. The manager must send a root cause analysis with corrective and preventive actions for each finding within 15 days of the inspection. Without a satisfactory reply, the inspection is invalid.
Where do RightShip inspections find the most high-risk issues?
RightShip's own 2025 data shows that enclosed space entry produces the most high-risk findings by a wide margin. In its November 2025 webinar, RightShip reported 4,985 inspections from January to 12 November 2025 across 102 countries and 846 ports. It reported 93% marked acceptable and an average of 20.1 findings per inspection, down from 23.1 in 2024. The high-risk findings by question were:
| RISQ question | Subject | High-risk findings, Jan to Nov 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 4.5 | Enclosed space entry procedure, evidence it was followed, and crew training | 529 |
| 4.18 | Lifeboats, rescue boat and davit-launched liferaft: servicing, condition and crew familiarity | 196 |
| 9.13 | Hatch cover parts, hydraulics and maintenance | 158 |
| 13.13 | Boilers, air compressors, purifiers and fuel oil handling equipment | 146 |
| 4.37 | Pilot ladders: condition, inspection, identification and maintenance records | 79 |
| 10.4 | Mooring lines and tails meeting industry guidelines and in good order | 66 |
| 4.11 | PPE matrix provided and PPE worn as required | 21 |
RightShip also listed mooring lines and winch brake testing among its high-risk themes for 2025. Most of these items depend on records and crew demonstration as much as on hardware.
How should a manager prepare a 10-year-old ship for its first RightShip inspection?
- List the fleet by delivery date. Work out when each dry bulk and general cargo ship reaches 10.5 years, and note any ship already over the age without a valid inspection.
- Book around the dry dock, not into it. RightShip recommends booking early, and the date and port can be changed later on the platform.
- Run an internal pre-inspection against RISQ 3.2 about three months ahead, with crew demonstrations and interviews, not just a document check.
- Close the high-risk areas first: enclosed space entry records and training certificates, lifeboat servicing and launching familiarity, hatch cover maintenance and clearance records, boiler and compressor upkeep, pilot ladder records, and mooring line certificates and brake tests.
- Consider a hybrid inspection. Managers upload set documents at least 72 hours before boarding, and RightShip puts the average time on board at 8 to 10 hours, against 10 to 12 hours for a standard inspection.
- Prepare the office for the 15-day reply. Agree who writes each root cause analysis before the inspector boards.
If you would like a RISQ 3.2 pre-inspection before the deadline, our audits and inspections team can help.
Frequently asked questions
When does the RightShip 10.5-year age trigger start?
Phase 4 of the RightShip inspection age trigger starts on 20 January 2027. From that date, every dry bulk and general cargo ship aged 10.5 years or more from delivery needs a valid RightShip inspection to pass vetting. RightShip set this on 26 May 2026, replacing the earlier plan of 10 years from 1 January 2027.
What happens if a ship over the age has no RightShip inspection?
It cannot pass a RightShip vetting nomination until it has a valid inspection, and its Safety Score drops to 2 out of 5 under the hybrid rule. The drop happens when the ship reaches the trigger age, or on the implementation date if it is already older. The charterer still makes the final decision on fixing the ship.
What is RISQ 3.2?
RISQ 3.2 is the RightShip Inspection Ship Questionnaire revised in November 2025 and used for all RightShip inspections from early 2026. RightShip says it makes more than 150 adjustments, consolidates or removes 30 questions and should save about 2 hours per inspection. It was developed with input from 22 maritime associations.
Is a RISQ inspection the same as SIRE 2.0?
No. SIRE 2.0 is the OCIMF inspection programme used for tankers. A RISQ inspection is RightShip's own inspection, run against the RightShip Inspection Ship Questionnaire and used mainly for dry bulk and general cargo ships. Both expect crews to demonstrate what procedures require, so preparation methods overlap, but the questionnaires and scoring differ.
How is vessel age calculated for the RightShip age trigger?
RightShip calculates vessel age from the date of delivery, not the keel-laying date or the year of build. The platform shows the age to one decimal place, which matters now that Phase 4 uses 10.5 years. Managers should check each ship's age on the platform and plan the inspection before that figure reaches the trigger.
How long does a RightShip inspection take?
RightShip puts a standard inspection at an average of 10 to 12 hours on board. A hybrid inspection, where managers upload set documents at least 72 hours in advance, averages 8 to 10 hours. A dual inspection, with two inspectors sharing the questions, averages 6 to 7 hours. Actual time depends on how prepared the ship is.
Sources
- RightShip: Revised RightShip Inspection Age Trigger, what it means for owners, managers and charterers (published 11 December 2024, updated 26 November 2025 and 26 May 2026)
- RightShip: Revised timeline for vessel inspection age trigger, 11 December 2024
- RightShip Deep Dive: An update to RISQ 3.2 and RightShip Inspections, 26 November 2025
- RightShip webinar slides: Advancing Vessel Safety, 26 November 2025
- RightShip Inspection Ship Questionnaire (RISQ) version 3.2, November 2025
- SAFETY4SEA: RightShip inspections conducted in accordance with RISQ 3.2