Abner Carvalho, marine director of operations at Anglo-Eastern, summarises the evolution of the SIRE programme and how to prepare for a successful inspection.
Understanding SIRE 2.0 and its implications
The SIRE programme, first introduced by the Oil Companies International Marine Forum (OCIMF) in 1993, has become a critical tool for ensuring regulatory compliance, improving safety standards, and sustaining operational efficiency within the tanker fleet. SIRE inspections are crucial in assessing a vessel’s suitability for use by oil companies and charterers, often referred to as an operator’s “ticket to trade.” As the tanker industry and its associated risks have evolved, there arose a need to reinforce the programme with an enhanced risk-based approach, offering a more comprehensive assessment of a vessel and its crew’s suitability for specific operations.
The SIRE 2.0 programme leverages technological advancements to conduct tablet-based inspections, which focuses not only on hardware issues, but also on processes, and human factors. The system employs algorithms to generate a bespoke set of questions for each inspection, based on data from previous inspections and incidents, as well as pre-inspection details provided in the Harmonised Vessel Particulars Questionnaire (HVPQ), Particular Inspection Questionnaire (PIQ), and the operator’s profile. Inspection data can be easily analysed to identify any compliance gaps with the operator’s Tanker Management and Self Assessment (TMSA) submissions and assess the crew’s knowledge and familiarity with systems and procedures. The output of such an inspection is not just a list of observations but a complete picture of how the ship and the shore offices are engaging with each other to manage the risks.
Anglo-Eastern has been engaging with various industry bodies and OCIMF to assist with the smooth transition to SIRE 2.0. In the second half of 2021, we were granted special access to the draft question library and the staging platform for SIRE 2.0 inspections. In October 2022, we completed a gap analysis of our SMS against the SIRE 2.0 questionnaire, followed by SMS revisions in January 2023. Since then, we have conducted multiple trial SIRE 2.0 inspections on selected vessels in our fleet, regularly providing feedback to OCIMF on the inspection process and potential improvements. Additionally, we have been active within the Intertanko Vetting Committee, ensuring that operators’ concerns regarding SIRE 2.0 were effectively communicated to and addressed by the SIRE 2.0 project team at OCIMF.
Preparing for a successful inspection
Proper preparation for a SIRE 2.0 inspection is crucial to achieving the desired outcomes.
With the earlier SIRE regime, inspections would commence at the gangway and were completed before the inspector disembarked from the vessel. However, with SIRE 2.0 the inspection begins much before the inspector steps on board. Onshore preparations begin with the accurate submission of the HVPQ, Vessel Particulars Questionnaire, vessel photographs, and statutory certificates, as well as ensuring that the incident and PSC repositories are updated. Data from these modules is processed through an inspection compiler, which generates a Compiled Vessel Inspection Questionnaire (CVIQ) tailored to the specific inspection. This CVIQ is then transferred to the nominated inspector’s tablet for his review before he boards the vessel for a physical inspection. As a result, the inspector is already familiar with the ship and its operational history even before boarding.
Onboard, the ship staff’s preparation is crucial to ensuring readiness and optimal performance during the inspection. Once a SIRE 2.0 inspection has been confirmed, the Master is required to conduct a thorough self-assessment, with the results reported on Jibe. Preparatory materials, including the SIRE 2.0 library, question-answering guidance, and OCIMF training videos, are provided to the crew ahead of the inspection.