Oil Companies International Marine Forum (OCIMF) has issued an update to its COVID-19 bulletin, which gives further guidance on Ship Inspection Report Programme (SIRE)/Offshore Vessel Inspection Database (OVID) inspections.
Oil Companies International Marine Forum (OCIMF) has issued an update to its COVID-19 bulletin, which gives further guidance on Ship Inspection Report Programme (SIRE)/Offshore Vessel Inspection Database (OVID) inspections. In the update, OCIMF is extending the availability of ‘live’ reports in the SIRE and OVID programmes to 18 months from its usual 12 months to allow some flexibility in light of the COVID-19 outbreak.
The full guidance can be found below:
Due to the ongoing impact of Covid-19, inspector travel and access to vessels and through terminals to conduct inspections is becoming difficult. Some inspections may not be possible depending on where the vessels are trading, and this will have an impact on the frequency of report submissions to the SIRE and OVID databases. OCIMF encourages report users to apply a pragmatic approach during this period of impact and for operators and inspection submitting members to maintain close communication.
Inspection reports in the SIRE and OVID programmes currently remain ‘live’ for a period of 12 months from the date that they are published in the system. Individual marine assurance organisations set their own requirements of acceptability for reports, including the age of report.
Following the initial period of 12 months, all reports are currently archived for 12 months during which time they can be accessed if needed. This access is usually provided on a case-by-case basis.
After 24 months the reports are removed from the system and are no longer available.
OCIMF is taking a proactive decision to allow marine assurance organisations’ flexibility by extending the availability of ‘live’ reports in the SIRE and OVID programmes to 18 months before being moved to archive. This change will take some days to arrange, but will be implemented as soon as practicable. We will issue an update when done.
We hope this action will assist both marine assurance organisations and operators during this period of uncertainty.
Veritas Petroleum Services (VPS) publish regular Bunker Alerts based entirely on fuel samples and have kindly permitted BIMCO’s Members to access this information.
The Bunker Alerts are not intended to be an evaluation of overall bunker quality in the port or area concerned, but usually highlight a specific parameter within the fuel which has raised a quality issue.
All of BIMCO's most widely used contracts and clauses as well as advice on managing charters and business partners.
For general guidance and information on cargo-related queries.
Want to buy or download a BIMCO publication? Use the link to get access to the ballast water management guide, the ship master’s security manual and many other publications.
We can help members check new business partners. We also help to recover millions of USD (undisputed) funds every year.