Discover the Riwal: Ratings & Maritime News

On July 29, 2026, the freighter 'Riwal' was detained in Livorno, Italy, after inspections revealed a staggering 20 deficiencies, with ten classified as serious enough to warrant detention. The major issues identified included: cracked, corroded, and poorly maintained hatchway covers, outdated nautical publications, non-compliant fire safety equipment, inoperative fire dampers, unsatisfactory sanitary facilities for crew members, inadequate heating and ventilation systems, and an improperly functioning magnetic compass. Additionally, the International Safety Management (ISM) certificate did not meet necessary requirements. The vessel was released from detention on August 5, 2026, but the findings of the inspection resulted in a ban on accessing ports within the Paris Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). Following the inspection, the 'Riwal' anchored at coordinates 43° 30' N and 010° 17' E. Notably, this was not the first time 'Riwal' faced such scrutiny; the freighter was previously detained on October 21, 2024, in Sevilla, where it was held for eight days due to eight identified deficiencies. Ship operators and owners should take note of this incident as it underscores the importance of maintaining compliance with international maritime safety standards.