Vetting Inspection (Tanker)

Vetting is the system by which oil majors and charterers assess the suitability of a tanker before chartering it. The most important vetting programs are SIRE (Ship Inspection Report Programme) run by OCIMF, and CDI (Chemical Distribution Institute) for chemical tankers.

Answer in Brief

Oil companies will not charter a tanker without vetting approval. SIRE inspectors board the ship and assess over 500 items covering safety management, equipment condition, and crew competency. The inspection report is shared with all subscribing companies. A poor SIRE report means fewer charters and lower rates.

OCIMF and SIRE

OCIMF (Oil Companies International Marine Forum) is an industry body representing oil companies. Their SIRE programme maintains a database of tanker inspection reports that member companies (Shell, BP, Total, ExxonMobil, etc.) use to vet ships before chartering.

How SIRE works:

1. A SIRE inspector (accredited by OCIMF) boards the tanker — typically in port or during cargo operations
2. The inspector uses the SIRE questionnaire (VIQ — Vessel Inspection Questionnaire) to assess the ship
3. The inspection typically takes 4–8 hours
4. The completed report is uploaded to the OCIMF SIRE database
5. All subscribing oil companies can view the report
6. Inspections are valid for the subscribing company’s purpose for a set period (often 6 months)

Inspection scope (SIRE VIQ 7): The current questionnaire (VIQ 7) has chapters covering:

• Certification and documentation
• Management and watchkeeping
• Navigation
• Cargo, ballast, and mooring
• Engine room and machinery
• Pollution prevention
• Safety management and crew welfare
• Structural condition

Observations: Minor deficiencies are recorded as observations (not failures). Multiple observations in the same area, or observations about critical safety equipment, concern oil company vetting departments significantly.

CDI Inspections (Chemical Tankers)

CDI (Chemical Distribution Institute) runs a similar program for chemical tankers. CDI inspections use their own questionnaire and are used by chemical industry charterers in the same way oil majors use SIRE.

A chemical tanker serving industrial cargo customers typically needs both SIRE (if also carrying petroleum products) and CDI certification.

How SIRE Affects Ship Employment

Oil majors use SIRE reports to:

• Approve a ship for charter (yes/no decision)
• Set charter rate (ships with clean recent inspections get better rates)
• Identify ships requiring corrective action before chartering

A ship with a recent inspection showing major deficiencies may be rejected by all major oil companies until the deficiencies are closed. This directly affects the shipowner’s ability to fix the vessel commercially.

Seafarer Responsibilities During SIRE

Preparation:

• All certificates current and accessible
• Log books up to date and complete
• Equipment tested and functioning (fire detection, LSA, GMDSS)
• Cargo system ready for inspection (manifold, hose connections, vapor recovery)
• Crew drills up to date and recorded
• All SMS (Safety Management System) documents accessible

During the inspection:

• Answer questions honestly and specifically
• If a deficiency is known, it is better to acknowledge it and show corrective action than to have the inspector discover you tried to conceal it
• The Master should accompany the inspector or assign a senior officer
• Chief Officer accompanies for cargo and deck areas; Chief Engineer for engine room

After the inspection:

• Review the report carefully when received
• Close out any observations with documented corrective actions
• Submit corrective action evidence to the oil major as requested

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can a ship refuse a SIRE inspection? Yes, but refusal means the ship cannot be chartered by OCIMF member companies. Commercially, refusal is not viable for oil tankers.

Q: How often are SIRE inspections done? Different oil majors have different validity periods (typically 6 months to 1 year for their own chartering purposes). Ships may be inspected multiple times per year by different inspectors.

Q: Are SIRE results confidential? SIRE reports are shared among OCIMF member companies — not publicly available. However, the ship’s owner and company receive a copy.

Questions about SIRE preparation, tanker operations, or vetting requirements? Chat with SailorGPT