💡RightShip’s new RISQ 3.2 framework mandates stricter hatch cover testing and evidence of crew competence to maintain your Safety Score. Mandatory inspections are already in effect for vessels aged 11 years and older, with the next trigger for 10+ year vessels arriving in January 2027. To pass, crews must demonstrate practical proficiency in ultrasonic testing, specifically establishing an Open Hatch Value (OHV) prior to loading sensitive cargoes.
RightShip RISQ 3.2 is the latest version of the RightShip Inspection Ship Questionnaire, which came into effect on 25 February 2026. It marks a critical shift in maritime safety standards, and the commercial stakes are real: a single failed hatch cover check can degrade your vessel’s Safety Score, costing you charter acceptances and terminal access overnight. For fleet managers and technical superintendents, this update fundamentally changes how weathertight integrity must be managed, tested, and proven, with your crew’s hands-on competence now under direct scrutiny rather than your paperwork.
Here is exactly what you need to know to ensure your vessel passes its next inspection.
What is RightShip RISQ 3.2?
RightShip RISQ 3.2 is an updated maritime inspection questionnaire that enforces stricter safety and operational standards. For cargo vessels, it introduces rigorous new checks on weathertight integrity, requiring crews to demonstrate competence in operating hatch cover testing equipment rather than merely presenting a maintenance policy.
When do the RISQ 3.2 age triggers start?
The new requirements are rolling out in phased age triggers based on the vessel’s age. These are:
How does RISQ 3.2 change hatch testing requirements?
Under the new guidelines, inspectors specifically ask whether hatch covers have been ultrasonically tested before loading. RightShip strongly recommends pre-loading ultrasonic testing, especially for moisture-sensitive cargoes such as steel, grain, and project cargoes, thereby shifting the focus to guaranteed cargo readiness and actual crew competency.
What is the Open Hatch Value (OHV) in RISQ 3.2?
To pass a RISQ 3.2 inspection, your crew must know how to establish and use the Open Hatch Value (OHV). The OHV is the baseline ultrasonic reading taken while the hatch is open (or via an access hatch), representing a total absence of a seal. The crew calibrates the receiver, so this open-air signal reads 100%. Once the hatch covers are closed and secured, the crew scans the seals. Under RISQ rules, any reading taken on a closed hatch that registers above 10% of that baseline indicates a lack of compression and potential water ingress requiring corrective action.
Why does RISQ 3.2 recommend ultrasonic testing over hose testing?
The guidance explicitly highlights the advantages of ultrasonic testing over traditional hose methods. Ultrasonic testing identifies exact leak locations, carries no pollution risk, and indicates the physical condition of seal compression. Crucially, it can be conducted safely even when cargo holds are fully loaded.
The rollout of RISQ 3.2 is not just a technical update; it is a major commercial catalyst. RightShip are no longer simply checking if you have a hatch cover testing policy—they are actively checking if your crew knows how to execute it.
A single failed hatch inspection directly degrades a vessel’s RightShip Safety Score. Because major charterers and terminals rely on this score to vet vessels, failing a surprise survey over poor weathertight integrity can immediately cost operators their charter acceptances and terminal access.
To ensure compliance with RISQ 3.2, your crew needs equipment that is highly accurate, easy to use, and surveyor- approved.
The Hatchtite ultrasonic testing system is perfectly aligned with the new RightShip methodology:
Are you ready for an inspection?
The new inspection rules are already in effect for older vessels, and the January 2027 age triggers are fast approaching. Protect your RightShip Safety Score and secure your cargo today.