OCIMF
OCIMF is a voluntary association of oil companies having an interest in the marine
transportation and terminalling of crude oil, liquefied natural gas, liquefied
petroleum gas, their derivatives and related organic compounds. Essentially, it is
concerned with the safe conduct of these operations and the prevention of pollution.
It represents its membership before intergovernmental, governmental and other
organisations. OCIMF is incorporated in Bermuda with a branch office in London. The
current membership of OCIMF embraces 44 companies and groups world-wide.
REVISED OCIMF SHIP INSPECTION REPORT (SIRE) PROGRAM
Program
OCIMF has established a program ("Programme") whereby OCIMF Members submit their ship
inspection reports ("Reports" or "Report") to OCIMF for OCIMF’s distribution to OCIMF
Members and certain qualifying non-OCIMF Members (collectively referred to herein as
"Programme Recipients"). The Programme ("Revised Programme") to which this Application
relates is the latest revision (2000) of the Ship Inspection Report (SIRE) Programme
introduced by OCIMF in November of 1993.
Participation in the Revised Programme, as either an inspecting OCIMF Member or as a
Programme Recipient, is strictly voluntary and each Programme Recipient determines
independently how to evaluate the information contained in Reports received under the
Programme.
Uniform Vessel Inspection Procedure
The Revised Programme requires that participating OCIMF Members follow a Uniform Vessel
Inspection Procedure. This procedure has two elements i.e., an Inspection Element and a
Report Element. The Inspection Element includes a detailed printed Vessel Inspection Questionnaire
(VIQ) document (2nd Edition – 2000) which has some 196 Key Questions dealing with safety and pollution
prevention which the participating OCIMF Members’ ship Inspector must (with certain exceptions) answer.
These questions are, in most cases, accompanied by guidance notes, sub-questions and source materials to
aid the ship Inspector response to the Key Questions. The VIQ must be converted into, and be answered,
in electronic form. The Report Element is in abbreviated form and consists of an electronic conversion
of the ship Inspector VIQ responses into a required uniform Report format.
Report Input / Ship Operator Report Involvement
OCIMF Members input their Inspector’s electronic VIQ response into an automated central Computer System
("SIRE System") in OCIMF’s London offices. Upon receipt in the SIRE System, the VIQ response is automatically
converted into an electronic Report in the required uniform format. This Report is then electronically stored
in the System.
Under the Revised Programme, the operator ("Operator") of the ship which is the subject of a Report is given a
paper copy of the Report by the OCIMF Member (by mail, courier or facsimile) and afforded the opportunity to
give written comment on the Report to both the inspecting OCIMF Member and to OCIMF. Any Operator comment on
the Report must be sent to the OCIMF Member submitting the Report and to OCIMF’s London offices. The sole
means of communicating such comments to both the foregoing entities is by facsimile. Upon receipt at OCIMF’s
London offices, Operator comments are converted to, and stored in, electronic form in the SIRE System.
As the Report is an abbreviated and reformatted version of the ship Inspector responses to the VIQ, Operators
should have a full (blank) paper copy of the VIQ Document so that the Operator can interpret the Report.
Participating OCIMF Members are required to insure that Operators have this VIQ document at the time Reports
are submitted to them.
Report Output
The SIRE System automatically matches any Operator comment received with the appropriate Report. The result is
that a requesting Programme Recipient should receive both the Report and the matching Operator comment.
Reports, together with any matching Operator comments, are made available to Programme Recipients in electronic form only.
VPQ and the Programme
OCIMF has published a Vessel Particulars Questionnaire ("VPQ") which asks over 700 separate questions about ship
particulars and required or customary on board documents of a permanent or semi-permanent nature, primarily related
to safety and pollution prevention. This document is separate and apart from the above discussed Vessel Inspection
Questionnaire (VIQ).
The VPQ has been incorporated as an optional element under the Revised Programme. When used in conjunction with the
Programme, this Questionnaire is to be answered by the Operator and then sent to the SIRE System. The Questionnaire,
however, must be so answered and sent in electronic form. This will require a computer and specialised OCIMF software.
The software will allow a print out of the VPQ response. OCIMF will make the software available to Operators free of
charge. OCIMF will not provide a computer.
Once entered into the SIRE System, a VPQ response will be made available (in electronic form) to Programme Recipients.
To best complement an inspection under the Revised Programme, a complete and current VPQ Response (in either electronic
or paper form) should be on board at the time of a ship inspection and have been sent to the SIRE System for inclusion
in the Revised Programme. The SIRE System, however, will accept a VPQ response for a ship only if there is a Report
for that ship in the SIRE System.
Programme Index
The SIRE System also creates and feeds a computerized Index giving information about the Reports, Operator comments and
VPQ responses received under the Revised Programme.
Programme Hardware/Software
A participating OCIMF Member will need a computer and specialized OCIMF software to enable the Member to perform various
mandatory electronic aspects of the input portion of the Revised Programme e.g., the need to make electronic response to
the VIQ and to transmit such response to the SIRE System for conversion therein into an electronic Report; the need to
convert an electronic VIQ response into a paper Report to be sent to the ship Operator for Operator’s comment. OCIMF will
provide the necessary specialized software free of charge to the participating OCIMF Members. OCIMF will not provide a computer.
To enable Programme Recipients to receive Revised Programme output in electronic form, the Programme Recipients need a dumb
terminal or a computer, which the Programme Recipients must provide.
ID(s)/Access Code(s)
To help ensure that access to Programme Output is open only to Programme Recipients, there is a requirement of OCIMF designated
Programme Recipient ID(s) and Access Code(s) for entry to the SIRE System and for electronic access to Programme Index.
Programme Composite Guidelines
Annexed hereto as Application Document "1" is a copy of the detailed Composite Guidelines (without the
Attachments to such Guidelines) governing the conduct of the Revised Programme.
DISCLAIMER
OCIMF DOES NOT WARRANT OPERATOR IDENTITY AND IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CHOICE OF SHIPS INSPECTED, THE INSPECTORS CHOSEN,
THE PERFORMANCE OF THE INSPECTIONS OR THE CONTENT OF THE REPORTS, OPERATOR COMMENTS AND/OR VPQ RESPONSES DISTRIBUTED UNDER THE
REVISED PROGRAMME. OCIMF IS INVOLVED ONLY IN THE RECEIPT, ORGANISATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF THE FOREGOING PROGRAMME OUTPUT.
OCIMF DOES NOT REVIEW OR EVALUATE SUCH OUTPUT AND EXPRESSES NO OPINION CONCERNING ITS ACCURACY.