The Oil Companies International Marine Forum (OCIMF) released a new and updated Ship Inspection Report Programme (SIRE 2.0) in June in order to continue to strengthen the tanker inspection process. This new, digitalised inspection programme will help the evolving industry keep up with risks, and allow for growth of technology and expertise.
This new programme introduces an expanded inspection regime, featuring novel tools, fortified governance processes and thorough reporting outcomes driven by a risk-based methodology. Moreover, it entails heightened inspection criteria for vessel safety equipment, the utilisation of web-enabled tablet devices for real-time reporting and feedback during inspections, updated policies, strengthened governance for improved transparency and substantial enhancements in the training and development of inspectors.
The OCIMF will continue to focus on its four key areas of Accuracy, Capability, Reliability and Adaptability in order to carry out efficient and effective inspections.
In the SIRE 2.0, all participants – such as submitting companies, vessel operators, inspectors and programme recipients – are required to comply with the OCIMF Programmes Code of Conduct, Terms and Conditions, Code of Ethics and the SIRE 2.0 Conditions of Participation, Policies and Procedures. While some regulations differ depending on the participant, the SIRE 2.0 Programme Introduction provides the necessary information for submitting companies and vessel operators to properly request an inspection.
A submitting company must be able to define the vessel and its operator, the cargo being carried, the vessel’s trade and the elapsed period since the previous inspection. It is not recommended that a vessel be inspected less than 30 days after a previous inspection, and inspectors are not routinely assigned to an inspection less than 48 hours in advance.
The SIRE 2.0 programme discusses the paper-based contingency inspections, submitting the CVIQ on completion of the physical phase of the inspection and CVIQ resubmission. Before the draft of the inspection report is released to the vessel operator, the content should be reviewed by the inspector prior to the submission to OCIMF and the submitting company in accordance with its own internal procedures. The vessel operator will have 14 calendar days to append the initial operator comments to the draft of the inspection report before it is automatically published to the SIRE 2.0 database.
