What are the inspection trends this month?

Covid 19 restrictions continue to disrupt RightShip Inspections operations worldwide. Inspections are best performed at discharge ports or anchorages prior to loading, but other operational status can be considered. 

March 2022 saw a record 180+ RightShip inspections conducted with the majority in the Far East. 

Inspections in Chinese ports remain very heavily restricted, and most of the inspections in China shown on the activity map were undertaken during docking. The options of Inspection at the Yantai and Kaohsiung anchorages are no longer possible due to a tightening of Covid requirements. With Inspections in China restricted, demand has been re-distributed globally to other destinations, with South Korea, Japan, Australia, and the Americas showing increased activity this month. Singapore remains singularly the most requested location.

Owners of Capesize vessels intending to call at Australian Pilbara ports for loading and requiring inspection, are strongly advised to make the necessary arrangements in the Far East before proceeding. Continuing strict West Australian Covid restrictions on Inspector attendance and limited helicopter transfer availability have seen many vessels wanting inspections incur significant delays.

The training of inspectors in the digital RightShip Inspection Ship Questionnaire (RISQ) format continues and Inspections will be progressively moved over from the existing paper based format in the coming months as accreditation numbers increase. An ongoing review of locations where regular demand for Inspections exceeds capability is in place so that additional resources can be sourced and engaged – for the first time ever RightShip will have resident Inspector capability in New Zealand.

Due to Sanctions and ongoing hostilities, we are currently unable to offer Inspections in Russia or Ukraine.

It is essential to plan well ahead and discuss a vessel’s forward itinerary with the RightShip Inspections team so that we can explore options – all too often we see Owners/Managers looking for Inspections in impossible locations when the vessel has just sailed from a convenient port where it could have been easily accomplished .