On 20 August 2025, RightShip is introducing a major update to its Safety Score that changes this: deficiencies will now be weighted by their severity, classified using a methodology developed by experienced RightShip experts.

Launched in 2021, the Safety Score provides a comprehensive, data-driven assessment of vessel safety performance, replacing the older star rating model.

Its goal is simple:

• Improve Transparency
• Improve Clarity
• Improve Accuracy

The Safety Score is made up of several sub-scores, each reflecting a different aspect of vessel performance—such as incidents, Port State Control (PSC) outcomes, class performance, and flag performance.

One of these key sub-scores relates to PSC deficiencies, which, up until now, was based on counting the total number of deficiencies identified during inspections, benchmarked against the average for that region (Port, Country or MoU).

While this approach offered a consistent and objective measure, it did not fully capture the context or relative importance of individual deficiencies. The latest update enhances this by incorporating severity levels, providing a more balanced and meaningful view of vessel safety performance.

Key changes include:

• Risk-based scoring: Deficiencies are now classified by severity, ensuring Safety Scores reflect their actual safety impact.
• Exclusion of non-relevant items: Certain deficiencies—such as those deemed invalid or already managed with Flag or Class authorities—will no longer impact the Safety Score, ensuring a more balanced assessment.
• AI-assisted consistency: A trained model helps apply the severity framework at scale, supporting vetting superintendents with faster, more consistent assessments.

Under the new model, their Safety Scores reflect the actual risk posed by each deficiency. Severity categories include:

• High Severity:
  Deficiencies or Findings that pose a clear danger to the ship or persons on board or present an unreasonable threat of harm to the marine environment if it were allowed to proceed to sea unrectified.
• Medium Severity:
  Deficiencies or Findings that fall between High Severity and Low Severity – they do not pose an immediate danger to the ship or persons on board nor present an unreasonable threat of harm to the marine environment if it were allowed to proceed to sea unrectified, and nor are they considered minor issues or administrative matters.
• Low Severity:
  Deficiencies or Findings that are minor issues or administrative matters. They pose minimal or no danger to the ship or persons on board nor present an unreasonable threat of harm to the marine environment.

RightShip had a webinar on the subject on 29th July. Read the blog and watch the webinar recap here.