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RightShip · Dry bulk vetting

RightShip inspection checklist: the 17 RISQ 3.2 sections and what changed

A RightShip inspection is a hybrid: a remote review of your documents, then a physical inspection on board using the RISQ questionnaire. Charterers read the result as a sign of how the ship is run. This checklist covers the sections, the changes in RISQ 3.2, the age-trigger dates and the 15-day close-out.

Updated 7 October 2026 · Written by SeaReady in our own words. Not affiliated with OCIMF, RightShip, CDI, any MoU or any administration — always check the current official documents.

The 17 sections of RISQ 3.2

  1. General information and particulars
  2. Certification, class and documentation
  3. Crew management and familiarisation
  4. Navigation and bridge operations
  5. Safety management and the SMS
  6. Pollution prevention and environment
  7. Maritime security (ISPS)
  8. Cargo and ballast operations
  9. Holds, hatch covers and cargo securing
  10. Mooring and anchoring
  11. Machinery and engine room
  12. Electrical and automation
  13. Life-saving and fire-fighting appliances
  14. Accommodation and welfare (MLC)
  15. Passage planning and heavy weather
  16. Communications and cyber
  17. Maintenance history and dry-dock

What changed in RISQ 3.2

  • More than 150 changes across the questionnaire; about 30 questions removed or merged.
  • Updates to training, navigation, ISM processes, machinery operations, pollution prevention, cargo and mooring.
  • New content for heavy-lift ships, ammonia-fuelled ships and STS service units.
  • Crew training is expected to have a syllabus, learning objectives, an assessment and a certificate — a signed attendance sheet is no longer enough.

Checks inspectors are reported to be tightening:

  • Enclosed-space gas detectors: the right type, calibrated, and crew who can use them.
  • Pilot ladders: genuine certificates that match the ladder actually in use.
  • Mooring lines: line design break force at least 100% of the ship design MBL.
  • Emergency generator: documented load tests (industry summaries say at least every 3 months — check your SMS).

The age trigger: when an inspection becomes necessary

Dry bulk and general cargo ships. RightShip moved the last step on 26 May 2026 — it had been 10 years from 1 Jan 2027.
FromShip age that needs a valid RightShip inspection
1 Oct 202513 years
1 Apr 202612 years
1 Jul 202611 years (current)
20 Jan 202710.5 years

Without a valid inspection over the trigger age, the ship’s Safety Score is capped at 2 out of 5 — which many charterers will not accept.

Before the inspector boards

  • Upload the requested documents through the RightShip platform at least 72 hours before the inspection.
  • Hatch covers: packing, compression bars, cleats, drain channels and an honest weathertightness test record.
  • Holds: coating condition, residues, structural damage and any doubler repairs.
  • Bilges and ballast: sounding pipes, bilge wells, ballast water records and treatment system.
  • Drills current and realistic — drill intervals; rest hours that add up — rest-hour rules.

For the week-by-week plan, see RightShip preparation for bulk carriers.

After the inspection: the 15-day root cause analysis

PartWhat to write
Root causeWhy the deficiency existed — the system failure, not the symptom.
Corrective actionWhat was done on board to fix this finding.
Preventive actionWhat changed in the SMS or procedure so it cannot happen again.
ResponsibilityA named owner on board and ashore for each action.
TimelineCompletion dates, with evidence.

Questions seafarers ask

What is RISQ 3.2?

RISQ is RightShip’s inspection questionnaire for dry bulk and general cargo ships. Version 3.2 was released on 1 November 2025 and has been in force since 25 February 2026. It has 17 sections and RightShip expects inspections to be about two hours shorter than under 3.1.

At what age does a ship need a RightShip inspection?

The age trigger is being lowered in steps. It has been 11 years since 1 July 2026 and becomes 10.5 years on 20 January 2027. A ship at or over the trigger age without a valid RightShip inspection has its Safety Score capped at 2 out of 5.

How long do we have to close out RightShip findings?

Submit a root cause analysis for every finding within 15 days of the inspection: root cause, corrective action, preventive action, who is responsible and the dates — with evidence.

Is there a RightShip inspection checklist PDF?

RightShip’s own question bank is theirs. A preparation checklist organised by the 17 sections, like the one on this page and in the SeaReady app, is how crews make sure every area has been looked at before the inspector arrives.

Prepare all 17 sections offline

SeaReady’s RightShip module has the 17-section structure with our own preparation questions, the submission pack with deadlines, and a root-cause tracker for findings.

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