RightShip’s Safety Ecosytem
At RightShip we believe that a successful voyage is one that is safe, sustainable, supports the welfare of our seafarers and is also commercially successful.
In our new platform, we combine our vast data, leading digital tools and analysis by our subject matter experts to benchmark operational performance consistently. This allows us to show “what good looks like” by highlighting best practice and supporting continuous improvement across the three dimensions below.
For the purpose of this article, we will focus on safety.
RightShip’s Safety Ecosystem
We support risk reduction and improved business outcomes for our customers by integrating, analysing, processing and assessing the many inputs to our platform using innovative technology. Our safety ecosystem due diligence process is comprised of the Safety Score, vessel vetting and inspections. All components should be evaluated together to improve the overall view of safety of your supply chain operations and pending voyages.
RightShip’s Safety Score
The Safety Score is designed to provide a composition of the world’s fleet and delivers a transparent view of best practice operations. It is intended to help our risk assessment customers gain an initial perspective on the operational performance of a vessel as part of a comprehensive due diligence process, while simultaneously encouraging shipowners to invest in improved processes and technologies that make the entire supply chain safer.
This clear and consistent benchmark of historic safety performance provides a reference point for all participants at the start of the vetting process. Find out more about the Safety Score methodology here.
Our expert vetting process
While the Safety Score provides an initial indication of a vessel’s safety and performance, our vetting process provides systematic due diligence, which is performed by our experts.
Utilising RightShip’s platform, our vetting superintendents provide an assessment based on the RightShip Standard, which may be supplemented with bespoke customer criteria, and ultimately make a suitable recommendation for a vessel on a nominated voyage.
RightShip’s vessel vetting service leverages our unique data, leading technology and due diligence processes to advise whether a nominated vessel would be recommended for a future voyage, based on several factors including route, environmental impact and cargo type.
We use all data and reporting collected in the RightShip platform, including outcomes from RightShip Dry Bulk Inspections, along with the vessel’s safety and GHG emissions profile to provide the complete picture of the condition, emission profile and operational history of a vessel.
Our experts then assess the vessel against our RightShip Standard and, where applicable, use any special vetting criteria requested by our vetting customers to address their specific risk profile. This could include berth fit, terminal questionnaires or other complex, bespoke requirements to suit their marine assurance needs.
At the end of the vetting process the vet requestor will receive a recommendation, in which the vessel is deemed ‘acceptable’ or ‘unacceptable’ for the nominated voyage.
Dry bulk inspections
Physical inspections enable RightShip to provide an added assessment of onboard safety management systems, operating and maintenance standards, safety culture, standards of welfare, crew wellbeing and environmental management on board. This process factors in inspection items that go beyond the physical condition and regulatory compliance, which may materially affect the operations of the vessel.
Completing inspections provides an additional assessment of operating practices and standards onboard. Inspections may identify opportunities for improvement or confirm that corrective action has been successfully implemented onboard.
How to use complementary RightShip’s products and services to reduce risk
The data from RightShip’s Safety Score and dry bulk vessel inspections, combined with our due diligence service allows our customers to take a holistic approach to risk and safety. While you will find the Safety Score and bulk inspection outcomes useful for real time performance and quality background checks, our vessel vetting service will help you carry out your internal risk assessment and assess the suitability of a vessel for your cargo, terminal or company risk profile. When all of these products are engaged, you have a complete view of a vessel’s suitability.
During our vetting process, we consider a range of inputs and assessments, including the Safety Score, to provide a reliable recommendation.
The Safety Score provides distinct and clear lines as to the operational performance of a vessel for our due diligence customers, however any vessel with a Safety Score between one and five could be recommended by RightShip after completing the whole vetting process satisfactorily:
SS N/A: Vessels which are out of scope for the Safety Score. In some cases, these vessels may receive an “acceptable” recommendation once the vetting process has been completed.
SS 0: Vessels which have been flagged as sanctioned. These vessels cannot receive a positive vetting outcome therefore the “request a vet” button is disabled for these vessels.
SS1 & 2: Vessels which need improvement to achieve the industry agreed standards of “good” operations. These vessels may be recommended by RightShip’s Vetting Superintendents but will require investigation and more information from the vessel’s manager.
SS3 – 5: Vessels which are working towards best practise in safe operations. In order to complete the full RightShip due diligence process, customers must complete a vet for these vessels. The outcome includes a timestamped recommendation based on the vessel’s specification, particular cargo and determined voyage.
The due diligence process may also be supported by the results of a physical inspection onboard to confirm the required improvements to address historic operational performance concerns have been implemented onboard satisfactorily.
See below for a summary of these products and services to understand how they complement one another:
The Safety Score provides a very different view of a vessel than the Qi Predictive Risk Rating. It is not a like for like replacement and therefore cannot be used in the same way as the Risk Rating.
We recommend that all references to a minimum Risk (or Star) Rating in any commercial contracts instead be replaced with the requirement to complete the vetting process. As explained above, the vetting process is designed to consider additional factors and clarifications beyond the Safety Score to produce a clear and trusted recommendation.
Building a blueprint for operational excellence
Finally, our safety ecosystem and all the complementary parts have been developed to serve all the customers and stakeholder in the supply chain.
Charterers, regulators, financers, insurers, ports and terminals all have their role to play in supporting an improved safety culture and standards across the board. True leadership from all key stakeholders is crucial to provide the transparency and collaboration required for real progress.
This is particularly important when allocating scarce resources and identifying where operating budgets should be maintained to avoid incidents and reputational damage in the future.
As always I thank you for your support as we make this important transition and encourage you to contact us with any questions, or learn more at comingsoon.rightship.com.