The Chemical Distribution Institute operates the global chemical industry's dedicated vessel inspection programme — a parallel vetting system to OCIMF's SIRE that focuses exclusively on chemical tankers, LPG carriers, and, since the 10th Edition SIR launch in February 2024, also covers LNG, product, and dry bulk tankers. CDI inspections produce a scored quality assessment used by chemical companies worldwide to make chartering and terminal access decisions. Unlike SIRE 2.0's graded observation model, CDI retains a structured questionnaire where every question is categorised as Statutory, Recommended, or Desirable — and negative answers to statutory questions can directly impact a vessel's commercial viability. With over 600 ship operators registered as CDI participants and chemical companies relying on CDI reports for risk assessment across the entire bulk liquid supply chain, operators who cannot produce clean CDI inspection outcomes face restricted market access in the chemical trades. Chemical tanker operators ready to strengthen their CDI performance can start a free trial of Marine Inspection to centralise inspection preparation, maintenance records, and crew competency tracking.
CDI vs SIRE: Understanding the Two Vetting Systems
Chemical tanker operators often face both CDI and SIRE inspections — sometimes on the same vessel. Understanding the differences between these two vetting regimes helps operators allocate preparation resources effectively. While there is significant overlap in what they assess, the inspection structure, scoring methodology, and report usage differ fundamentally. Operators who book a Marine Inspection demo can see how the platform supports both CDI and SIRE preparation simultaneously.
| Feature | CDI (10th Edition SIR) | SIRE 2.0 (OCIMF) |
|---|---|---|
| Governing Body | Chemical Distribution Institute (Netherlands) | Oil Companies International Marine Forum (OCIMF) |
| Primary Scope | Chemical tankers, LPG, LNG, Product, Dry Bulk | Oil, Chemical, Gas, LPG tankers |
| Questionnaire | Fixed SIR with core chapters + vessel-specific Chapter 5 | Bespoke CVIQ generated by algorithm — no two identical |
| Response Format | Yes/No with Statutory (S), Recommended (R), Desirable (D) grading | Four-tier: Exceeds Expectations to Not as Expected |
| Scoring | Produces a numerical score — higher is better | No numerical score — qualitative graded observations |
| Human Element | Crew competency assessed within questionnaire chapters | Dedicated 9 Performance Influencing Factors (PIFs) |
| Inspector Appointment | Mechanical rotation system within geographical zones | OCIMF assigns from accredited inspector pool |
| Report Validity | 13 months from inspection date | 12 months from publication date |
| Pre-Inspection | Ship Information Database (SID) + Vessel Particulars Questionnaire (VPQ) | HVPQ + PIQ + Photo Repository (6-month updates) |
| Used By | Chemical companies for chartering and terminal access | Oil majors, charterers, terminal operators |
The CDI Ship Inspection Report: Structure & Chapters
The 10th Edition SIR uses a single core questionnaire applicable to all vessel types, with a separate vessel-specific Chapter 5 for each of the five vessel categories. Every question is categorised as Statutory (referenced to international regulations), Recommended (referenced to industry codes of practice), or Desirable (required by CDI participants). Understanding this categorisation is critical — a "No" answer to a Statutory question carries significantly more weight in chemical company risk assessments than a "No" to a Desirable question.
The CDI Inspection Process: From Request to Report
CDI Preparation: What Chemical Tanker Operators Must Get Right
CDI inspections produce a numerical score that chemical companies use for direct comparison between vessels. Every "No" answer reduces the score, with Statutory items carrying the greatest weight. The preparation strategy for CDI is therefore different from SIRE 2.0 — it is about eliminating negative answers across the questionnaire, particularly in Statutory categories. Sign up for Marine Inspection to track your CDI readiness across every SIR chapter.
Expert Review: CDI's Role in the Chemical Supply Chain
CDI occupies a unique position in the maritime vetting landscape. While SIRE 2.0 has modernised tanker vetting with digital tools and risk-based algorithms, CDI retains its structured questionnaire approach with numerical scoring — and this distinction matters commercially. Chemical companies use CDI scores for direct vessel comparison in ways that SIRE 2.0's qualitative observations do not easily support. A vessel with a CDI score of 92% is immediately and objectively comparable to one scoring 85%, and chemical companies set minimum score thresholds for chartering approval.
The 10th Edition SIR's expansion to cover LNG, product, and dry bulk tankers signals CDI's ambition to become the comprehensive supply chain inspection standard for all bulk liquid and chemical trades. The July 2024 amendments adding EEXI/CII compliance verification demonstrate CDI's responsiveness to the decarbonisation agenda. For operators managing mixed fleets that cross CDI and SIRE inspection territories, the preparation challenge is managing two parallel vetting systems — but the compliance fundamentals are identical: maintained equipment, competent crews, current documentation, and systematic corrective action management. Schedule a walkthrough to see how Marine Inspection unifies CDI and SIRE preparation.
Conclusion
CDI inspections are the chemical industry's primary risk assessment tool for vessel chartering and terminal access decisions. With the 10th Edition SIR now covering five vessel types, over 600 registered ship operators, and chemical companies using CDI scores as direct gatekeepers for commercial approval, a poor CDI outcome restricts your market access in ways that no amount of commercial negotiation can overcome. The preparation strategy is clear: eliminate negative answers in Statutory categories, maintain all equipment to documented standard, ensure crew can demonstrate cargo-specific competence, and convert every inspection finding into a tracked corrective action before the next inspection. Marine Inspection provides the digital platform that connects these daily operations into one CDI-ready system — sign up today to start building CDI inspection readiness across your chemical tanker fleet.
