Originally from Navigating Maritime Arbitration: The Experts Speak - Second Edition

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Pre-fixture tank vessel vetting programs are very important especially for tanker owners seeking to obtain vessel employment from oil companies as charterers. The physical vessel vetting inspections and owner management vetting compliance reports are voluntary and are not required by flag state, class, local port authorities and/or terminal requirements. However, without suitable vessel inspection results and a management vetting compliance program leading to a favorable oil company review, owners cannot commercially trade their vessels. This chapter discusses the history and current status of tanker inspection and vetting protocols and associated tanker charter party vetting clauses, and the current pre-nomination oil terminal vetting protocols.

I. TANKER VETTING HISTORY

After the EXXON VALDEZ oil spill incident in 1989, and as oil companies reduced tanker ownership, the Oil Companies International Marine Forum (“OCIMF”) launched the Ship Inspection Report Program (“SIRE”) in 1993 which is a computer database program for tankers to address perceived concerns about substandard tankers and to promote better/higher vessel safety and pollution prevention, and to increase vessel owner management compliance standards within the shipping industry.  In 2004, OCIMF expanded the SIRE program to include barges and small vessels. OCIMF does not perform vessel vetting. OCIMF provides data to its members and approved recipients. The OCIMF members and recipients then undertake a vessel assurance process (vetting) using data provided by OCIMF.