In today’s ever changing technological landscape, comes new and more sophisticated technologies to measure and manage risk. This change is due to the constant evolution of industries and more specifically the maritime industry. This resulted in the development and enhancement of the OCIMF SIRE 2.0 Inspection programme to ensure that the programme remains relevant and effective.

Background

OCIMF’s Ship Inspection Report Programme or more commonly known SIRE programme was originally launched in 1993 to address concerns about sub-standard shipping. The SIRE inspection programme is most commonly used on tankers as a risk assessment tool for stake holders concerned with a ship safety. In 2005 barges were incorporated into the SIRE Programme.

SIRE 2.0 programme is a risk-based vessel inspection programme which will be replacing the existing. SIRE 2.0 is the OCIMF method for shifting from a purely equipment and procedure focused inspections to a more human orientated process. Key changes between the current VIQ7 and SIRE 2.0 are as follow:

  • Digitalisation of the inspection process with the use of tablets devices, allowing for inspection to be completed in real time. With real time GPS start and stop inspection function and the capability to upload photographic or documented evidence to support findings. Allowing for a more accurate and complete report.
  • Each inspection will have its own tailored set of questions made up off core, rotational (Level 1 & 2), conditional and campaign questions, populated by their question compiler.
  • Core questions – These are question that will be included in all inspection questionnaires and are the minimum questions required to meet the members fundamental risk assessment criteria.
  • Rotational questions – These are questions that will be rotated in and out over a period of time.
  • Conditional questions – These are specific questions included based on the data available for the vessel.
  • Campaign questions – These are specific question identified by the OCIMF and will be included over a limited period of time.
  • SIRE 2.0 questionnaire will move away from simple binary yes/no answer to a more graduated response system, incorporating hardware, processes, and human elements. This will be combined with photographic validation question to support observations.
  • Negative observation will be detailed and codified, allowing for systematic comparison on data mining.
  • Operators must provide detailed information through the Pre-inspection Questionnaire (PIQ), Harmonised Vessel Particulars Questionnaire (HVPQ) and a standard set of photographs, and the inspector will have to verify that they are representative of the vessel’s actual condition.
  • The Master will also be required to supply a list of open defects. Where a defect by inspector is observed but not in the provided defect list, negative observations will be raised based on the damaged hardware, reporting processes inadequacy and human factor involved.

OCIMF has also included human factors as a core element in the SIRE 2.0 programme, by ensuring that crew members have what they need to perform a task reliably and by identifying performance influencing factors.

I’m certain that Ship Owners, Charterers and operators will welcome the reduced number and customization of the inspection questionnaire brought by SIRE 2.0, but all we can hope for is that the question compiler takes into consideration the vessels operation and whether certain best practices will create more of hazard then a barrier to avoid incidents.