OCIMF Vessel Inspection (SIRE) – Complete Guide Checklist

Regulatory Compliance

• OCIMF SIRE inspections ensure vessels meet international maritime standards and regulations, preventing port state control issues and maintaining operational credibility with charterers worldwide.

Safety Assurance

• Comprehensive inspections identify potential safety hazards before they escalate, protecting crew members, cargo, and the environment from accidents and incidents.

Commercial Viability

• Maintaining high SIRE inspection scores enhances vessel marketability, increases charter opportunities, and demonstrates commitment to operational excellence in the shipping industry.

• Cargo and ballast system valves in good order
• Cargo and/or ballast tanks free of sloshing or other restrictions
• Cargo lines, vapour lines and inert gas lines in good order and is there recorded evidence of regular testing
• Cargo operations being carried out and logged in accordance with the plan
• Cargo plan been prepared and does it contain a detailed sequence of cargo and ballast transfer

• Cargo tank high level and overflow alarms in good order
• Cargo, ballast and stripping pumps, eductors and their associated instrumentation and controls including temperature monitoring
• Damage Stability Verification Guidelines available
• Erators operating manuals include procedures for restoring stability in case of unstable conditions
• Loading computer or programme is in use, is it class approved

• Officers familiar with the carriage requirements for the cargoes on board
• Records indicating that the operational accuracy of the load computer is tested regularly
• Remote and local temperature and pressure sensors and gauges in good order
• Stress and stability information included with the cargo plan
• Verbal communication between the ship and the shore adequate

• Are class survey reports adequately filed
• Certificate of Fitness for the Carriage of Chemicals or Gas
• Certificate of Registry
• Civil Liability Convention (1992) Certificate
• Continuous Synopsis Record

• Does the Operators representative visit the vessel at least bi-annually
• Has the vessel been enrolled in a Classification Society Condition Assessment programme (CAP)
• If the vessel is subject to the Enhanced Survey Programme, is the report file adequately maintained
• IOPP Certificate,

• Noxious Liquid Substances (NLS) Certificate
• Safety Construction Certificate
• Safety Management Certificate (SMC)
• Safety Radio Certificate
• Statement of Compliance supplement

• A planned maintenance system being followed and is it up to date
• All loose gear in the machinery spaces, stores and steering compartment properly secured
• All moving machinery provided with effective guards where this presents a hazard
• An engineers call alarm fitted and is it in good order and tested regularly and the results recorded
• Bilges free of oil, rubbish and sediment

• Emergency escape routes effectively marked, unobstructed and adequately lit
• Engine room emergency stops for ventilation fans clearly marked and do records indicate that they have been regularly tested
• Engine room log book adequately maintained
• Engine room machine tools have adequate eye protection available
• Fuel system fitted with valves that are capable of being closed from outside the machinery space

• Operator subscribe to a fuel, lubricating and hydraulic oil testing programme, and is there a procedure in place to take into account the results
• Procedures to restart essential equipment
• Records indicate the regular testing of emergency equipment
• Records maintained for the regular inspection and testing of lifting devices
• Self-closing sounding devices to double bottom tanks in good order and closed

• A fixed system to monitor flammable atmospheres in non-cargo spaces is fitted, are recorders and alarms in order
• An adequate deck watch being maintained to prevent unauthorised access
• Drills for emergency procedures being carried out
• Electric welding equipment in good order and are written safety guidelines available on site

• Lifejackets in good order
• Liferafts in good order
• Muster lists and lifejacket donning instructions displayed
• Officers familiar with use and calibration of portable oxygen and hydrocarbon analysers
• Permanent arrangements provided for lifting an incapacitated person from the cargo

• Security officer been designated and trained to undertake this role
• Ship security records related to port calls being maintained
• Ship security records related to the ship security plan being maintained
• Ship-specific life-saving equipment maintenance instructions available

• All mooring ropes and where fitted, mooring wire tails, meet OCIMF guidelines
• All powered mooring lines correctly reeled on drums, secured on brakes and winches out of gear
• Bitter end securing arrangements unobstructed and outside the chain locker
• Brake linings, drums and pins appear to be in good order
• Certificates available for all mooring ropes and wires

• Mooring lines secured to bitts and turned up correctly
• Mooring lines stowed neatly to minimise tripping hazards
• Mooring tails are fitted to wires, do they have proper connecting links
• Mooring winches in a gas hazardous area are electrically powered, are motors Extrated
• Mooring winches, including winch foundations in good order

• Pedestal fairleads, roller fairleads and other rollers well-greased and free to turn and are bitts and chocks free of grooving
• Policy in place for the testing of winch brakes and are the results recorded
• Records of the inspection and maintenance of mooring ropes, wires and equipment
• Split drum winches are all the lines made fast with no more than one layer on each tension side of the drum

• A description of equipment, its location, a plan for deployment and specific crewmember duties for handling small spills
• A suitable containment fitted around hydraulic and other deck machinery
• A USCG approved Vessel Response Plan (VRP)
• Adequate manifold spill containers and gratings in place under the cargo manifolds, fitted with suitable drainage arrangements and are they empty
• Approved MARPOL Shipboard Oil Pollution Emergency Plan (SOPEP)

• Cargo sea suction valves are fitted, are adequate pollution prevention measures in place,
• Cargo system sea and overboard valves suitably lashed, locked or blanked
• Condition of scupper plugs satisfactory and are scuppers effectively plugged
• Disposals of slops and dirty ballast been adequately recorded and were they in accordance with MARPOL
• Engine Room (Part I) and Cargo (Part II) Oil Record Books (ORBs) correctly completed

• Ship fitted with a maindeck boundary coaming
• Sludge and bilge tanks designated in Form A or Form B of the IOPP Certificate
• Suitable spill containers fitted around all fuel, diesel and lubricating oil tank vents
• Unused cargo and bunker pipeline manifolds fully bolted and are all drains and vents and unused gauge stems, suitably blanked or capped
• Vessel free from any visible bulkhead, valve or pipeline leakage liable to cause pollution

• Cargo and/or ballast tanks were sighted from the deck
• Enhanced Survey Programme file free from any information that raises concerns relating to the vessels structure

• Internal spaces free from visible structural defects
• Procedures in place to carry out regular inspections of cargo and ballast tanks
• Superstructure free from visible structural defects

• Weather decks free from visible structural defects that warrant further investigation
• Hull free from visible structural defects that warrant further investigation

• Are all personnel able to communicate effectively in a common language
• Are the STCW and flag Administrations regulations that control hours of work to minimise fatigue being followed
• Are those officers who have immediate responsibility for cargo transfer, in possession of the Certificates of Specialized Training as applicable to the type of cargo being carried

• Does the manning level meet or exceed that required by the Minimum Safe Manning Document
• Does the officers? matrix posted for the vessel on the SIRE website accurately reflect the information relating to the officers on board at the time of the inspection
• Does the operators Drug and Alcohol policy meet OCIMF guidelines
• Has the Master attended a ship handling course where applicable

• Have all deck officers attended either a Bridge Resource Management, or Bridge Team Management course
• If the vessel is fitted with High Voltage equipment, is staff suitably trained
• Whether the vessel carries chemicals, has a formal programme of regular and appropriate medical examinations for personnel been implemented

• A qualified person been designated to handle distress communications
• Communications equipment in good order
• Emergency radio battery log up to date
• Instructions for operating the digital selective calling (DSC) and satellite communications equipment in an emergency clearly displayed
• Lists of Radio Signals the latest edition and corrected up to date

• Maintenance programme in place to ensure availability of the radio equipment
• Officers aware of the function of the ship security alert system and how it operates
• Periodical tests of communications equipment being carried out as required
• Satellite EPIRB fitted, armed and labelled correctly and inspected in accordance with the manufacturers requirements

• Survival craft portable VHF radios and Search and Rescue Locating Devices in good order and charged
• The Radio Log being maintained correctly
• Vessel equipped with sufficient intrinsically safe portable radios for use on deck
• Vessels call sign and Inmarsat ship station identity clearly marked on the radio installation
• Radio emergency batteries in good order and fully charged

• A daylight signalling lamp.
• A gyro compass and repeaters.
• A Navtex receiver
• A properly adjusted standard magnetic compass.
• A radar installation.
• Has the Master written his own Standing Orders and are Bridge Orders being completed and have the deck officers countersigned them as being read and understood

• An automatic identification system (AIS).
• Are auto to manual steering changeover procedures clearly identified
• Are auto to manual steering changeover recorded during periods of river transits and when navigating through restricted Waters
• Are checklists for pre-arrival, pre-departure, watch handover, Pilot-Master exchange and pilot card effectively completed

• Has the Bridge been adequately manned at all stages of the voyage and at Anchor and were lookout arrangement adequate
• If a bridge navigational watch alarm system (BNWAS) is fitted is it operational at all times when the vessel is at sea
• Is navigation equipment appropriate for the size of the vessel and in good order
• An echo sounder.