UK charity Human Rights at Sea (HRAS) has strongly criticised RightShip’s new crew welfare self-assessment tool over its lack of transparency.

The vetting company, which is owned by three of the biggest dry cargo charterers, launched the system in October as part of a code of conduct for employers to protect seafarers’ rights.

The code was developed together with the Sustainable Shipping Initiative (SSI) and the Institute for Human Rights & Business (IHRB).