RightShip - Experts & Thought Leaders

ERMA FIRST, a globally renowned sustainable maritime solutions provider, has joined the RightShip Zero Harm Innovation Partners Program, which aims to promote the adoption of solutions targeting a zero-harm maritime industry. Committed to preserving and protecting the marine ecosystem, ERMA FIRST offers an extensive portfolio of future-proof maritime sustainability solutions encompassing alternative maritime power (AMP), carbon capture and storage (CCS), and energy-saving devices (ESDs). Future-proof solutions With these solutions now part of the Zero Harm Innovation Partners Program, shipowners and managers can showcase these integrated technologies to charterers, demonstrating their proactive steps towards achieving zero harm. “ERMA FIRST began life as a manufacturer and supplier of ballast water treatment systems, but has since evolved to become a pioneering provider of future-proof solutions that directly contribute to maritime decarbonisation,” said Nikos Drimalas, Sales Director, ERMA FIRST. Shoreside electrical grid  Nikos Drimalas adds: “As a testament to the impact of these solutions, our newly established collaboration with RightShip will help us to reach an even wider global audience. We are proud to be involved in a programme that promises to accelerate shipping’s transition to a zero-harm industry.” By allowing vessels to shut down their auxiliary engines and draw from the shoreside electrical grid at berth, ERMA FIRST’s AMP system, BLUE CONNECT, enables emissions-free port stays, while its CARBON FIT CCS system will significantly reduce emissions at sea by capturing CO2 from exhaust gases. FLEX series of ESDs The company’s FLEX series of ESDs boost propulsive efficiency to cut fuel consumption and emissions Meanwhile, the company’s FLEX series of ESDs boost propulsive efficiency to cut fuel consumption and emissions during voyages.  The first in the series, FLEXCAP, builds on the proven capabilities of propeller boss-cap fins, drawing energy from the hub vortex and converting it into torque to reduce power demand on the propeller, enhancing fuel efficiency by two to five percent as a result.  Proper alignment Using a ring design to guide water flow towards the propeller, FLEXRING increases speed in areas where flow is otherwise obstructed. It also creates some thrust on the duct and, with proper alignment of the fins, a pre-swirl effect. This leads to efficiency gains of between three and seven percent. Comprising a set of fins placed and aligned with precision, FLEXFIN guides the flow around the hull in such a way that ensures more even distribution, reducing water resistance, optimising flow to the propeller, and consequently boosting efficiency by up to three percent. When used in conjunction, the three ESDs can yield energy savings of up to 16%.

RightShip, the digital maritime platform providing expertise in safety, sustainability, and social responsibility practices announced a change in its vessel inspection age trigger. Vessel inspection In response to evolving market conditions and continuing safety risks in the Dry Bulk and General Cargo sectors, RightShip will implement a phased approach to require inspections of vessels at an earlier age. This change reflects the organisation’s continued commitment to improving safety standards, reducing incidents, and promoting sustainable maritime operations, and builds on consistent customer feedback calling for vessel inspections to identify risks and propose mitigation actions. A two-phased approach to enhanced safety The phased introduction of this new policy will begin on 31 March 2025: Phase 1 (2025): RightShip’s age trigger for inspection of Dry Bulk and General Cargo vessels will change from 14 years to 12 years, after which an annual acceptable RightShip Inspection will be required. Phase 2 (2026): The age threshold will be further reduced, requiring inspections for vessels aged 10 years or older. Additionally, RightShip will require vessels with less than 8,000 DWT to undergo similar inspection making the safety standard more consistent across the global Dry Bulk and General Cargo fleet. Operational excellence "Our decision to lower the inspection age from 14 to 10 years, in a phased approach, reflects the desire from stakeholders for more physical inspections of vessels to counter challenges the dry sector faces in achieving operational excellence," explained Christopher Saunders, Chief Maritime Officer at RightShip.  He adds, "This change reflects our commitment to raising safety standards globally and comes at a critical time as the global dry bulk fleet now averages 14.7 years in age and will continue to rise." Risks with aging vessels The update is driven by clear evidence of risks with aging vessels and is informed by extensive industry dialogue Christopher Saunders continues, "Data shows there is a strong correlation between performance in a RightShip Inspection and the risk of detentions and incidents." This update is driven by clear evidence of risks with aging vessels and is informed by extensive industry dialogue over the last 12 months. Addressing key safety risks RightShip data reveals that the Dry Bulk sector lags in critical safety metrics compared to other sectors, with bulk carriers experiencing the highest incident ratio at 1.49%, followed by oil (0.96) and LNG (0.89%) Fatalities are significantly more prevalent in Dry Bulk, showing a 0.42% fatality ratio, surpassing LNG and LPG vessels (0.14%). Additionally, bulk carriers have a Port State Control detention ratio of 4.69%, which is four times higher than that of oil tankers, highlighting the significant safety concerns associated with bulk carrier operations. Analysis of vessel size and age The RightShip analysis of vessel size and age indicates a strong correlation between the age of bulk carriers and increased safety risks, particularly after vessels exceed 10 years. Larger vessels (over 200,000 DWT) see a notable rise in incident and detention ratios as they age, especially between 10-13 years. This trend is also evident in smaller vessels, where incident and detention ratios peak at 14-19 years. Need for proactive safety interventions The pattern mirrors the challenges faced by general cargo vessels, highlighting the broader issue of aging fleets Moreover, deficiencies per inspection increase with vessel age across all categories, emphasising the need for proactive safety interventions well before the 14-year mark to support owners and managers in mitigating risks, inform chartering decisions, and enhance operational efficiency. This pattern mirrors the challenges faced by general cargo vessels, highlighting the broader issue of aging fleets in maritime safety. Stronger safety measures "At RightShip, our commitment to safety and crew welfare is evident in our proactive standard-setting and advocacy for stronger safety measures," said Steen Lund, CEO of RightShip. He added, "The data and insights gathered from our inspections are crucial in enhancing the vetting process, providing charterers with a clearer understanding of a vessel's condition and performance and supporting ship owners and managers in their efforts to enhance safety across their fleets." Transparency in the maritime ecosystem Steen Lund continues, "As we navigate the challenges associated with an aging fleet, we must collectively strive for safety and transparency across the shipping industry. It is incumbent upon the entire maritime ecosystem to embrace and champion improved safety standards." He concludes, "This commitment is part of our broader mission to drive continuous improvement toward zero harm in maritime operations."

RightShip, a global Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) focused digital maritime platform, welcomes Wilhelmsen Ships Service (Wilhelmsen), a leader in maritime solutions, to its Zero Harm Innovation Partners programme (ZHIP). As part of this collaboration, Wilhelmsen will highlight its cutting-edge products, the Timm Snap Back Arrestor (SBA™) rope and the Line Management Plan (LMP™), both of which exemplify its commitment to safer mooring practice. Zero-harm maritime The ZHIP, launched in March 2024, aims to encourage the development of new technologies and solutions for a zero-harm maritime industry. By connecting product creators with shipowners and charterers, the programme facilitates the testing of innovative technologies in real-world environments, enhancing safety and sustainability in the maritime sector. Currently, the programme includes six Partners. Safer and more sustainable maritime "We are delighted to welcome Wilhelmsen to the ZHIP and look forward to the positive impact its innovative solutions will have on advancing a safer and more sustainable maritime industry," said Ajinkya Kadam, Head of Partnerships at RightShip. He added, "The interest the ZHIP has garnered over the past few months is a testament to the collective ambition of the ecosystem to develop a safer maritime sector for all." Working towards safer mooring The incidents often result in injuries and highlight the need for improved safety measures Mooring operations present significant safety challenges. The number of mooring-related incidents has risen in ports like Rotterdam, where reported accidents increased from 122 in 2020 to 159 in 2023. These incidents often result in injuries and highlight the need for improved safety measures. Mooring safety standards “Being a part of RightShip’s ZHIP is a testament to Wilhelmsen's dedication to enhancing mooring safety standards in the maritime industry," said Thomas Caradec, Product Management and Planning Director, Mooring Solutions at Wilhelmsen.   "We aim to drive a positive change in the maritime industry and collaborate with other partners in the programme to find ways to improve safety at sea." Active and passive safety measures Passive measures like the SBA™ can minimise the severity of risks in case of accidents Wilhelmsen is committed to mitigating mooring-related risks by offering a set of active and passive safety measures. Active measures, such as the LMP™, aim to reduce the probability of accidents, while passive measures like the SBA™ can minimise the severity of risks in case of accidents.  The world's first and only snap-back rope   The SBA™ rope is the world’s first and only anti-snap-back rope qualified by DNV. It is renowned as the safest mooring rope on the market, significantly reducing dangerous snapbacks and providing the safest possible working conditions for crew members. The innovative design of the SBA™ centres around its energy absorption capabilities, where its core functions as a non-load-bearing component during normal rope operation. In the event of a load-bearing construction break, the SBA™ core partially absorbs the snap-back energy resulting in a substantial reduction of snap-back forces. Insights into rope usage and maintenance The cloud-based platform provides real-time insights into rope usage and maintenance The LMP™ simplifies rope management by documenting evaluation methods and requirements for determining line retirement criteria. The cloud-based platform provides real-time insights into rope usage and maintenance, acting as a digital logbook for storing rope certificates, managing inventory, and accessing inspection history.  Crew efficiency The LMP™ enhances safety and optimises crew efficiency by offering a holistic overview of all ropes onboard and a history of their usage and inspections, ensuring compliance with safety regulations. The application was developed following the introduction of updated Mooring Equipment Guidelines (MEG4) by the Oil Companies International Marine Forum (OCIMF) to provide ship operators with a comprehensive tool to manage their mooring line inventory.