The Oil Companies International Marine Forum (OCIMF) has successfully completed the first phase of the ‘four-phased’ roll-out and testing of the digitalised tanker inspection regime, SIRE 2.0, which will replace all existing SIRE inspections for tankers.
OCIMF informs that Phase 2 of the transition is now underway, with invited programme users testing the entire end-to-end SIRE 2.0 inspection process with minimal support from the OCIMF Secretariat.
As a digitalised inspection programme, SIRE 2.0 will have OCIMF-accredited inspectors completing a bespoke risk-based inspection questionnaire (CVIQ) using a tablet device rather than a static paper questionnaire. This means no two inspections will be the same and vessel operators and crew must be prepared to respond to any question within the SIRE 2.0 Question Library, OCIMF claims.
SIRE 2.0 also has an increased focus on assessing the human element, an ability for vessel operators as well as inspectors to submit photographic and documentary evidence and introduces the ability for inspectors to highlight how crews have exceeded expectations.
"We are transitioning to SIRE 2.0 over several phases as we recognise that moving to a digitalised regime with new processes and procedures is a significant change for industry and it needs to be done very carefully", said Aaron Cooper, Programmes Director, OCIMF
According to Aaron Coopier, the Phases are as follows:
- Phase one: A limited number of invited parties conducted SIRE 2.0 inspections with the support of the OCIMF project team where they were able to gather crucial feedback and recommendations from participants.
- Phase two: This phase, which is now underway, sees a greater number of participants involved and conducting SIRE 2.0 inspections, this time without OCIMF’S support, so OCIMF can really interrogate how user-friendly the system is and collect feedback and opinions through the Suggestions its Improvement function within SIRE 2.0 and in our follow-up sessions.
OCIMF has been actively engaging with industry through industry engagements and training sessions and is urging all programme participants to ensure they are fully familiarised with all documentation relating to SIRE 2.0.
The organisation also stressed that all parties involved in a tanker inspection, including Captains and crew, should be familiarised using the training resources provided by OCIMF and available to industry here. Particular attention should be paid to the document SIRE 2.0 Conditions of Participation, Policies and Procedures, available here.
"When SIRE 2.0 does fully ‘go-live’ at phase four, the existing system, VIQ7, will be withdrawn. Operators, programme participants and recipients really should take the opportunity to test their readiness before SIRE 2.0 becomes the commercial tool", Aaron Coopier highlighted
All companies engaged in the SIRE programme will be provided with ample notice before Phase 3 is activated. Phase 3 will provide all programme participants with the opportunity to conduct SIRE 2.0 inspections for familiarisation and testing purposes, however VIQ7 will still be used as the commercial inspection programme throughout Phase 3.
More phase-specific information will be provided to all programme participants in the coming weeks through the existing SIRE programme portal.
Source: Safety4sea
