"SIRE 2.0 is one of the most significant steps forward in safety assurance for our industry. Its success reflects the hard work and collaboration of members, operators, inspectors and our technical teams."
Director's Log
I’m pleased to share that September marked the first anniversary of SIRE 2.0, our enhanced Ship Inspection Report Programme.
Since its launch on 2 September 2024, over 22,000 inspections have been completed in 2,100 ports worldwide by 460 accredited inspectors. With only 0.2 percent of inspections requiring the paper-based contingency, the transition has been smooth and adoption strong.
SIRE 2.0 is one of the most significant steps forward in safety assurance for our industry. Its success reflects the hard work and collaboration of members, operators, inspectors and our technical teams. Together, we have embedded a new approach that raises standards and supports safer operations across the sector.
Looking ahead, our focus is on building on this strong foundation. Priorities include leveraging data insights, enhancing inspector training, integrating risk management into guidance and maintaining active engagement with programme users. These developments will ensure the programme continues to evolve with industry needs and anticipate emerging risks.
Thank you to all stakeholders for your contribution to this milestone. Your feedback is essential, and I encourage you to continue using the SIRE 2.0 Suggestions for Improvement portal to help strengthen the programme and ensure it remains robust and relevant for the future.
Karen Davis
Director OCIMF
OCIMF Day – London 2025
On 18 Sept 2025, OCIMF Day – London was held at the Institute of Engineering and Technology Savoy.
OCIMF welcomed more than 170 attendees, comprising a cross-section of industry stakeholders including representatives from OCIMF member companies, partner maritime organisations, vessel operators and SIRE/BIRE/OVID inspectors.
The timing and location of this event, like the Principal Committee meetings held earlier in the week, were arranged to provide maximum value, allowing OCIMF members the opportunity to participate in both OCIMF activities and events associated with London International Shipping Week (LISW).
Through a series of panel discussions and Q&A sessions, OCIMF showcased its current priorities and how it integrates human factors concepts to drive continuous improvement in the maritime energy sector.
Topics included:
- Integration of human factors.
- Inland barging.
- Launch of the second edition of the Ship to Ship Transfer Guide.
- Snapshot of OCIMF Programmes (SIRE, BIRE, OVID and MSA) metrics.
- SIRE 2.0 – reflections one year after launch.
In addition to the panel discussion topics, attendees were able to meet members of the OCIMF secretariat, learn about OCIMF’s ongoing projects, emerging risks, and opportunities, and to network with other attendees.
Presentations and pictures of the day can be found here: OCIMF Events.
For any queries, contact Darron L. Biddle, OCIMF P&A Director,
London International Shipping Week
OCIMF’s Nautical Adviser Javed Bhombal and Engineering Adviser Alexys Nielsen participated in the Headline Conference of London International Shipping Week (LISW), held at the IMO on 17 September.
The one-day event convened over 700 senior leaders from the global maritime industry and government to explore the sector’s evolving challenges and opportunities.
Speakers highlighted the dynamic nature of maritime operations and the industry’s vital role in global connectivity. Key themes included the growing influence of digitalisation, the imperative for innovation and investment in seafarers, the complexities of the geopolitical and regulatory landscape, and the collective journey toward decarbonisation.
Discussions highlighted the fragmented nature of technology standardisation in merchant shipping while exploring incentivising early adopters of alternative fuels and technologies, ensuring transparency in decarbonisation funding, and integrating ports for safer, smarter operations.
Concerns were raised about fraudulent ship registries and their impact on safety and seafarer welfare, prompting calls for stronger global oversight and enhanced guidelines.
The IMO Secretary-General reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to embracing change – guiding, evolving and engaging to support the future of maritime.
As part of London International Shipping Week 2025, OCIMF's Chairman and Security Adviser joined an expert panel to discuss support to commercial shipping to strengthen maritime security in a new era of threat. Hosted by the UK Chamber of Shipping and UK Ministry of Defence, the session examined lessons observed during the Red Sea Crisis and emerging threats faced from new technologies.
Ship to Ship Transfer Guide second edition out now
The Ship to Ship Transfer Guide for Petroleum, Chemicals and Liquefied Gases provides comprehensive guidance on the planning and execution of Ship to Ship (STS) transfer operations for petroleum, chemical and liquefied gas cargoes. Reflecting the latest operational best practices and regulatory developments, it is applicable to all ships involved in STS activities, whether conducted at sea or in port.
The Ship to Ship Transfer Guide for Petroleum, Chemicals and Liquefied Gases is the definitive industry guide for safe and effective STS operations, and reflects over 50 years of practical experience and regulatory alignment. This second edition builds upon the foundation of its predecessors and incorporates significant updates to address emerging industry needs.
Buy the eBook now on Witherbys website. Printed copies will be available in October. The revised STS checklists are available to download on the book's page on OCIMF's website. Click the button below for more details.
Barging news
Barging activities in Germany
In the week of 8 September, OCIMF’s Smart Shipping Working Group gathered in Duisburg for a workshop on Remote Controlled Operations. The group toured the remote operated research vessel Nova in the port of Duisburg and visited the research centre DST, and the workshop was held at the office of HGK shipping. OCIMF, along with CDI, was invited to the office of BASF in Ludwigshafen to join the Marine Assurance and Vetting Day. OCIMF’s Barge Adviser gave a presentation about worldwide barging activities and engagement. OCIMF would like to thank Ellie Schoonwinkel of BASF, Jan Klonki of HGK Shipping and Dr. Jens Neugebauer of DST for their hospitality.
London International Shipping Week
OCIMF’s vision for barging is to take a global approach to best practices, with OCIMF members and industry stakeholders from different continents working more closely together and sharing their learnings. During London International Shipping Week, OCIMF held a meeting at its office for members based in the EU, North America and South America, as well as representatives of Platform Zero Incidents (PZI), The American Waterway Operators (AWO) and EU operators. The group held useful discussions and made plans for future meetings. OCIMF would like to thank all attendees, especially the former OCIMF Barge Adviser Marc de Backer, for their positive participation.
For more information, contact Ton Mol, OCIMF Barge Adviser,
Publications and Advocacy Principal Committees
Publications and Advocacy Tankers, Barges and Terminal Interfaces Committee
11th meeting: 15 September 2025 (London)
Chair: Raj Shetty (ENOC)
Vice-Chair: Paul Tait (Chevron)
Secretary: Darron L. Biddle (OCIMF P&A Director)
The P&A TBT Committee met at the Institute of Engineering and Technology (IET) for its 11th meeting. Attendees were joined by Hans Weverbergh, SIGTTO General Manager who provided an update on the refreshed SIGTTO strategy and current activities. The P&A TBT representatives received updates from and approved strategies of subordinate Expert Groups, including Barge Expert Group’s Asia-Pacific Barge Focus Group initiative, Structures Expert Group plans to revise several publications and Nautical Expert Group’s RAF recommendation to support the work of the Royal Institute of Navigation to develop guidelines for responding to spoofing and jamming disruptions to position, navigation and timing (PNT) signals from global navigation satellite systems (GNSS). The representatives also received a briefing describing the pending revisions to the OCIMF mission and scope.
Publications and Advocacy Offshore Committee
11th meeting: 16 September (London)
Chair: Matthieu Bougeant (TotalEnergies)
Vice-Chair: Frank Nyheim (Equinor)
Secretary: Darron L. Biddle (OCIMF P&A Director)
The PAOC met at the Institute of Engineering and Technology for its 11th meeting (PAOC 11). The meeting was opened with sharing and discussion of lessons learned from a fatal incident onboard a platform supply vessel during backloading of tubular cargo. The PAOC representatives received updates from and approved strategies of the Floating Systems (FSEG) and Offshore Vessel Operations (OVOEG) Expert Groups, including proposals from OVOEG for health check metrics to monitor the functioning of the OVID programme. The representatives were provided with a summary of the RAF assessment team recommendation related to alignment of MSA programmes and a briefing describing the pending revisions to the OCIMF mission and scope.
For any queries, contact Darron L. Biddle, OCIMF P&A Director,
GOMO Steering Committee
Lead: Euan Simpson (Equinor)
Secretaries: Neil Carr (amsglobalgroup.com), Christopher Holland (OCIMF Offshore Adviser)
Date: 11 September 2025
Vessel operations supporting and supplying offshore facilities present a high level of risk due to the nature of the work involved and the challenging environments. To reduce and manage these risks, the industry has produced the Guidelines for Offshore Marine Operations (GOMO) to gather the best practices for offshore safe operations.
OCIMF supports this industry best practice as a Steering Committee member and by providing personnel to the work groups for chapter updates. This Steering Committee meeting discussed updates to Chapter 5 – Certification, Training, Competency & Manning and planning for future updates to Chapter 9 – Logistics and Cargo Handling Operations.
For any enquiries, please contact Christopher Holland, OCIMF Offshore Adviser,
Working Group to revise the Guide to Manufacturing and Purchasing Hoses for Offshore Moorings
Lead: Euan Goddard (BP)
Co-Lead: Hans Kolsters (Shell)
Secretaries: Nick Howard, Christopher Holland (Offshore Adviser)
Date: 26-28 August
The Working Group (WG) revising the Guide to Manufacturing and Purchasing Hoses for Offshore Moorings (GMPHOM), 5th Edition, 2009, met primarily in person with support from virtual attendees. The WG addressed hose carcass and end fitting definitions as well as testing requirements to ensure all manufacturers are addressed. The WG continues to edit, with an expected handover to the Publications team in the fourth quarter of 2025.
For any enquiries, please contact Christopher Holland, OCIMF Offshore Adviser,
Structures Expert Group
15th meeting: 3 September 2025 (virtual)
Lead: Jeff Bayham (ExxonMobil)
Co-lead: Gerard Spaan (Shell)
Secretary: Lexy Nielsen (OCIMF Engineering Adviser)
The Structures Expert Group (SEG) kicked off its third meeting for 2025 with a comprehensive review of the current work plan, reprioritising the short, medium, and long term goals, in addition to discussing new topics to be presented to the Principal Committee for approval.
Members discussed the recent Blue Ribbon review of PIANC 153C: Recommendations for the Design and Assessment of Liquid and Gas Marine Terminals Handling Fossil-Based and Clean Alternative Fuels and Cargoes. Review suggestions were combined with comments from SIGTTO and submitted to the PIANC working group. Updates were shared on the progress for the Guidelines for the Design, Operation and Maintenance of Multi Buoy Moorings (MBM)revision working group; with the updated bowtie nearly completed via virtual meetings the group will convene for the first face to face meeting in Panama at the end of the month.
Finally, the group selected a team for the upcoming review of the information paper Safe Access on Ships with Exposed or Raised Deck Structures.
A warm welcome to our newest SEG members from Aramco and Neste.
For enquiries, contact Lexy Nielsen, OCIMF Engineering Adviser,
IMO news
11th session of the IMO Sub-Committee on Carriage of Cargoes and Containers (CCC 11)
IMO meetings resumed on 1 September after a month-long summer break starting with the 5-day intersessional working group on safety of ships using alternative fuels (ISWG-AF 2) reporting its progress on developing the interim guidelines for ships using hydrogen as fuel to CCC 11 in the following week.
The following activities of relevance to OCIMF took place during CCC 11:
Safety of ships using alternative and low flashpoint fuels and new technologies
- Interim guidelines for ships using hydrogen as fuel were finalised.
- Finalisation of interim guidelines for use of ammonia cargo as fuel – applies to gas ships only.
- Updated road map for further development of alternative and low flashpoint fuels – next steps include prioritisation of revised interim guidance for use of methyl/ethyl alcohols as fuel and ships using fuel cell power installations, and future development of mandatory regulation.
- Onboard carbon capture and storage (OCCS) related regulatory gaps and barriers to be addressed during CCC 12 in 2026.
Review of the IGC Code
- Comprehensive package of amendments to the IGC Code finalised during this session for approval by the 111th session of the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC 111) in May 2026 – Emphasis on clarifying regulatory application dates for new-build ships during this session.
Bulk carriage of liquefied hydrogen
- Enhancement to the IMO interim recommendations for carriage of liquefied hydrogen in bulk to include a wider range of containment systems, specifically, vacuum insulated membrane-type cargo tanks. Amendments are subject to adoption by MSC 111.
CCC 11 summary report will be available to members via AFM in due course.
For enquiries regarding IMO matters, contact Abhijit Aul, OCIMF Risk and Regulatory Affairs Adviser,