RightShip Inspections Program
The RightShip Inspection Program is a leading standardised framework covering the inspection of dry bulk and general cargo vessels, ensuring consistent, high-quality and effective assessments are conducted against a defined standard, with the objective of elevating safety and operational performance across the industry.
Understanding the RightShip Inspections Program
RightShip Inspections combines, a structured questionnaire, defined assessment criteria and standardised inspection methodology, developed to support ship owners and vessel operators.
The RightShip Inspection Ship Questionnaire (RISQ) forms an integral part of the RightShip Inspection standard, providing the structured framework used to assess vessel condition, Safety Management Systems (SMS), and crew familiarity with safety procedures.
This approach ensures inspections are conducted consistently and aligned with industry expectations, capturing objective evidence of vessel condition and operational performance. By aligning inspections with recognised industry standards, recommendations, and best practices, the RightShip Inspection supports organisations in strengthening safety performance and enabling safer, more sustainable operations.

Why the Industry Trusts RightShip Inspections
- Industry Input
- Consistent Inspections
- Verified SMS
- Best Practice
- Accredited Inspectors
Developed with Industry Input
RISQ has been shaped through consultation with industry associations, ship owners & vessel operators, and inspectors to ensure it reflects real-world operational challenges and evolving industry expectations.

Comprehensive and Consistent Inspections
RISQ provides a structured inspection framework that promotes consistency across vessel assessments while evaluating vessel condition, operational practices, crew preparedness, and safety performance.

Verification of SMS Effectiveness
The questionnaire helps verify that Safety Management Systems are effectively implemented onboard by assessing procedures, operational controls, and crew familiarity with requirements.

Aligned with Industry Best Practice
RISQ incorporates guidance and recommendations and best practices from leading maritime organisations, including IMO, ISO, ILO, OCIMF, ICS, P&I Clubs, and recognised industry codes of practice.

Qualified and Accredited Inspectors
RISQ inspections are conducted by qualified inspectors who meet minimum experience requirements and undergo rigorous training, testing, and quality assurance processes to support consistent and reliable inspection outcomes.
Supporting Consistent Inspection Standards
RightShip Inspection Ship Questionnaire
The RightShip Inspection Ship Questionnaire (RISQ), is a comprehensive vessel inspection guidance designed to enhance the consistency and quality of vessel inspections. RISQ verifies the effectiveness of a managers Safety Management System (SMS), conducts overall ship condition assessments, and ensures crew familiarity with safety protocols, and aligns with industry recommendations and best practices.

RightShip Inspection Training, Testing and Accreditation Program
The RightShip Inspection Training, Testing and Accreditation (TTA) Program is a structured framework that sets the required qualifications, training, and assessment standards for inspectors conducting RightShip Inspections, ensuring they have the necessary experience, knowledge, and competencies. It standardises how inspectors are trained, tested, and accredited through formal learning, assessments, and audited inspections to drive consistency and quality across all RightShip inspections.

Frequently Asked Questions
To enhance safety and transparency across the maritime supply chain by providing an objective assessment of vessel standards.
Inspection outcomes are used to:
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Support vetting decisions by reinforcing desktop assessments with on-board verification.
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Identify gaps between a vessel’s Safety Management System and actual practices.
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Promote continuous improvement by encouraging operators to align with best practice standards beyond regulatory compliance.
Ultimately, the programme contributes to RightShip’s objective of improving safety performance and reducing risk across the industry.
RightShip Inspections play a key role within the vetting process and Safety Score framework.
- A valid inspection strengthens vetting outcomes, providing confidence in vessel condition and management practices.
- Where an inspection is required but not available, it can directly impact the vetting outcome (e.g. delays or an “unacceptable” status where no inspection is booked).
- Inspection outcomes (including findings and validity) are considered alongside vessel performance indicators such as PSC history and incidents to inform overall risk assessment.
This integration ensures that inspection results are not standalone, but part of a holistic, risk-based evaluation of vessel quality and safety performance.
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Strengthen Safety Performance with a RightShip Inspection
Take the next step towards safer, more sustainable operations.
Download the RISQ 3.2 or request a RightShip Inspection to gain an assessment of your vessel's safety performance and operational practices.
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