Seafarers' Practical Guide to SIRE 2.0 Inspections

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The Seafarers' Practical Guide to SIRE 2.0 Inspections has been written for all Officers and crew on board to enable them to better understand the content and requirements of the SIRE 2.0 Vessel Inspection Questionnaire.

This publication follows each chapter of the SIRE 2.0 Inspection Questionnaire and provides guidance on the responsibilities for each question. The guide compiles and summarises the inspection guidance, the suggested Inspector actions, the expected evidence and the potential grounds for a negative observation for each and every question as they are outlined in the OCIMF question libraries.

The purpose of this guide is to assist staff and operators to prepare for a vessel's SIRE 2.0 ship inspection.

The importance of consistently successful ship inspections cannot be understated for, without these, vessels will find it extremely difficult to trade. Good and thorough preparations will not only show an Inspector the competency and professionalism of the crew, but also how well the vessel is managed.

OCIMF introduced SIRE 2.0 as a risk-based vessel inspection programme which will supersede the traditional SIRE programme as launched in 1993. The new approach has resulted in a new questionnaire focussed on equipment, procedures, and human factors, with SIRE 2.0 inspections on board tankers to be conducted by trained and accredited OCIMF Inspectors using a certified web-enabled tablet.

The SIRE 2.0 introduces new terminology and both operators and crew are encouraged to familiarise themselves with the training resources, which are available on the OCIMF website. INTERTANKO Members, as well as the Secretariat, have been actively engaged, and instrumental, in the trial inspections and phased implementation plan of SIRE 2.0.

This publication follows each chapter of the SIRE 2.0 Inspection Questionnaire and provides guidance on the responsibilities for each question. Each ship owner, ship management company/operator or technical manager should, under their own Safety Management System (SMS), have their own allocations of such responsibilities on board.

Those on board at the forefront of the inspection will usually be the Master, Chief Officer, Chief and 2nd Engineers, referred to as ?Senior Officers?. It should be recognised that underperformance from junior Officers and any other member of the crew could result in a negative observation and such comments could result in the vessel potentially failing a clearance process. It is noteworthy to mention here that SIRE 2.0 also provides the Inspector the possibility to raise a positive observation under the human element response tool where the crew?s performance exceeds normal expectations.

Questions are often directed to those Officers/personnel with direct responsibility or who are involved in the operation/ process being examined. A considerable number of questions are directed to the ?accompanying Officer?, thus it is of utmost importance that the Officers accompanying the Inspector in each department are well versed with the procedures on board. For example, when a cargo operation is carried out, which, in general, involves all Deck Officers, and at times on certain vessels an Engineering Officer or Gas Engineer, then all of those Officers involved should be expected to be interviewed and thus have knowledge of the relevant question being asked.

Although the SIRE 2.0 questionnaire distinguishes between Core, Rotational 1 and Rotational 2 questions, it is of utmost importance that seafarers are able to answer every question relevant to their type of vessel as the CVIQ is compiled using an algorithm which is automatically issued to the Inspector?s tablet. The Core questions will be asked during each inspection, but neither operators nor seafarers will have knowledge of which rotational questions will be asked ahead of the inspection.

Knowledge of legislation, as well as the contents of documents and publications as identified in the OCIMF question libraries, forms a vital part of demonstrating the understanding of each question within the SIRE 2.0. In the publication at hand, the authors have compiled and summarised the inspection guidance, the suggested Inspector actions, the expected evidence and the potential grounds for a negative observation for each and every question as they are outlined in the OCIMF question libraries.

INTERTANKO has provided a means of reporting Inspector behaviour in a confidential manner in order to ensure continuous improvement of ship inspections and inspection procedures for its Members. The reporting system has been developed in an electronic format which allows the reports to be submitted directly into a database. In view of the confidential nature of this system, a username and password, which can be obtained from INTERTANKO, is required to upload reports ? please email marine@INTERTANKO.com to obtain your username and password.

This Guide should be used in conjunction with the latest OCIMF-SIRE 2.0 Question Libraries.

Remember, a well-prepared vessel will expedite any ship inspection.

Introduction & scope

Foreword

Introduction

Layout and how to use this Document

Chapter 1. Vessel, Operator and Inspection Particulars

Chapter 2. Certification and Documentation

Chapter 3. Crew Management

Chapter 4. Navigation and Communications

Chapter 5. Safety Management

Chapter 6. Pollution Prevention

Chapter 7. Maritime Security

Chapter 8. Cargo and Ballast Systems

Chapter 9. Mooring and Anchoring

Chapter 10. Machinery Spaces

Chapter 11. General Appearance and Condition

Chapter 12. Ice Operations

Appendices

INTERTANKO (the International Association of Independent Tanker Owners) is a trade association that has served as the voice for independent tanker owners since 1970, representing the interests of its Members at national, regional and international levels.

The organisation champions an industry dedicated to support global energy networks by delivering safe, efficient and environmentally sound transport services.

INTERTANKO actively works on a wide range of operational, technical, legal and commercial issues affecting tanker owners and operators around the world. It draws on regular and direct contact with its Members and other industry stakeholders to develop and disseminate information and best practice, essential to the tanker industry.

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