Oil Companies International Marine Forum

The Oil Companies International Marine Forum, commonly known as OCIMF, is a voluntary association of oil and energy companies with interests in the marine transportation and terminal handling of crude oil, refined petroleum products, petrochemicals and gas. Its membership also includes companies involved in offshore marine operations supporting oil and gas exploration, development and production. Based in London, OCIMF acts as a technical and industry body rather than as a commercial shipping company, regulator or classification society. OCIMF was formed in London on 8 April 1970, in the aftermath of growing public and governmental concern about marine pollution, particularly following the Torrey Canyon disaster. The founding rationale was that the oil industry should contribute its practical and technical expertise to the development of international conventions, national laws and operational practices intended to reduce pollution and improve maritime safety. The organisation was incorporated in Bermuda in 1977 and maintained a London branch in part to support liaison with the International Maritime Organization. The organisation's stated purpose is to promote safe and environmentally responsible transportation of crude oil, oil products, petrochemicals and gas, together with safe management of related offshore marine activities. It pursues this objective by preparing technical guidance, developing industry good practice, contributing to international policy discussions and supporting structured inspection and vetting systems. Its work addresses the design, construction and operation of tankers, barges, offshore vessels, terminals and the interfaces between ships and shore facilities. Human performance and other human factors are also considered in its safety work. OCIMF is best known for its vetting and information systems. The Ship Inspection Report Programme, or SIRE, provides a standardised framework for inspecting tankers and maintaining inspection information used by members and other industry participants in the assessment of vessel safety and operational suitability. The Offshore Vessel Inspection Database, or OVID, performs a comparable function for vessels working in the offshore drilling and support sector. These systems do not replace statutory regulation or classification requirements, but they provide a common industry process for gathering and reviewing operational risk information. The organisation also publishes guidance for tanker operators, terminals and offshore marine stakeholders. Its publications cover subjects such as tanker and terminal operations, ship-to-shore interfaces, terminal equipment and maintenance, offshore vessel inspection and related safety practices. In cooperation with other specialist bodies, including the Society of International Gas Tanker and Terminal Operators and the International Marine Contractors Association, OCIMF contributes to guidance intended to improve consistency across sectors. OCIMF's policy and technical work is conducted through an Executive Committee, senior standing committees, subcommittees, forums, working groups and task forces. Its principal committee areas include general purposes, ports and terminals, offshore marine activities and legal matters. The organisation has also participated in discussions involving the European Union and the International Maritime Organization, including debates on tanker safety, the accelerated phase-out of single-hull tankers, the carriage of heavy grades of oil and environmental liability. Its continuing role is to provide industry expertise while promoting practices intended to reduce harm to people, property and the marine environment.

OCIMF emerged from the oil industry's response to the environmental and political consequences of major tanker accidents. It was established at a London meeting on 8 April 1970, when concern about marine oil pollution was increasing sharply after the Torrey Canyon incident. Governments were considering new international conventions and domestic legislation, while oil companies sought a coordinated way to contribute technical knowledge and communicate industry views to governmental and intergovernmental bodies. Although pollution prevention was central to its origins, OCIMF's remit expanded into a broader programme of maritime safety, environmental protection and operational assurance. The forum developed guidance for tankers, barges, terminals and offshore vessels and became involved in questions concerning vessel design, construction, equipment, ship-to-shore interfaces, cargo handling, terminal operations and human factors. Its work has been intended to complement, rather than replace, legal requirements, flag-state oversight, port-state control and classification processes. OCIMF was incorporated in Bermuda in 1977. It also established and maintained a London branch, reflecting the importance of proximity to the International Maritime Organization and other maritime policy institutions. From London, a permanent secretariat supports the organisation's committees and coordinates technical work undertaken by representatives and specialists from member companies. A major part of OCIMF's influence comes from its inspection and vetting programmes. The Ship Inspection Report Programme, generally called SIRE, created a common system for tanker inspections, standardised questions and inspection reporting. Members and other authorised industry users can use the resulting information as part of their assessment of a vessel's condition, management systems and operational performance. The system became an important private-sector layer of assurance in the oil transportation market. OCIMF later developed OVID, the Offshore Vessel Inspection Database, for vessels supporting offshore drilling and production. OVID's development and administration involve cooperation with the International Marine Contractors Association. The forum has also contributed technical expertise to international and regional policy debates. Its cited areas of participation include European Union discussions on tanker safety and environmental liability, as well as International Maritime Organization debates concerning the accelerated withdrawal of single-hull tankers and the carriage of heavy grades of oil. These activities illustrate OCIMF's dual role: it is both a producer of voluntary industry guidance and a representative forum through which oil companies present technical perspectives on proposed regulation. OCIMF's governance is built around an Executive Committee and senior standing committees. The Executive Committee is the principal policy-making body, while committee and working-group structures address general purposes, ports and terminals, offshore marine operations and legal issues. The organisation also convenes specialist forums, task forces and subcommittees when particular technical or policy questions arise. Its publication programme has included the International Safety Guide for Oil Tankers and Terminals, produced with publishing partner Witherby, and technical guidance for terminals, tanker operators and offshore stakeholders. OCIMF has also worked with SIGTTO on the Jetty Maintenance and Inspection Guide, which addresses maintenance and inspection of jetty equipment used by oil and liquefied-gas terminals. In the 2020s, OCIMF continued modernising its vetting infrastructure. SIRE 2.0 was released in September 2024 as a new version of the tanker inspection programme. The organisation therefore remains positioned as an industry-led source of operational standards, inspection frameworks and technical coordination for the global marine transportation of oil, gas and related products.

• 2024

  SIRE 2.0 enters industry use

  [1]Oil Companies International Marine Forumen.wikipedia.org

  OCIMF released SIRE 2.0, a new generation of its tanker inspection and vetting programme.

• 2022

  SIRE access restrictions affecting Russian ships

  [1]Oil Companies International Marine Forumen.wikipedia.org

  Russian ships were restricted from using the SIRE system in the context of sanctions.

• 2020

  Sixth edition of ISGOTT

  [1]Oil Companies International Marine Forumen.wikipedia.org

  The sixth edition of the International Safety Guide for Oil Tankers and Terminals was published with Witherby.

• 1977

  Incorporation in Bermuda

  [1]Oil Companies International Marine Forumen.wikipedia.org

  OCIMF was incorporated in Bermuda and maintained a London branch for engagement with the International Maritime Organization.

• 1970

  OCIMF is formed in London

  [1]Oil Companies International Marine Forumen.wikipedia.org

  The forum was established on 8 April 1970 as the oil industry's coordinated response to growing concern over marine pollution and tanker safety.

A global industry-led technical forum and safety-standard setter for tanker, terminal, gas and offshore marine operations.

• Vetting and inspection database

  Ship Inspection Report Programme (SIRE)

  SIRE is OCIMF's tanker inspection and vetting programme. It provides inspection questions, reporting procedures and a shared information environment used to assess the safety and operational condition of tankers. The programme supports charterers, operators and other authorised users in reviewing vessel risk, while remaining separate from statutory certification, classification and port-state-control systems.

• Digital inspection and vetting programme · 2024

  SIRE 2.0

  SIRE 2.0 is the updated generation of OCIMF's tanker inspection framework. Released to the industry in September 2024, it modernises the approach used to structure inspections and capture information about vessel operations, management systems and risk controls.

• Offshore vessel inspection database

  Offshore Vessel Inspection Database (OVID)

  OVID is OCIMF's inspection information system for vessels supporting offshore drilling and oil and gas production. Its development and management involve committee work with the International Marine Contractors Association, helping offshore stakeholders apply a more consistent approach to vessel assurance.

• Technical publication

  International Safety Guide for Oil Tankers and Terminals

  Commonly known as ISGOTT, this publication provides operational safety guidance for oil tankers and terminals. It addresses the interaction between ships and shore facilities and is intended to support safer cargo transfer, terminal operations and tanker management. The sixth edition was published in 2020 with Witherby.

• Terminal maintenance guidance

  Jetty Maintenance and Inspection Guide

  The Jetty Maintenance and Inspection Guide was developed by OCIMF and the Society of International Gas Tanker and Terminal Operators. It provides guidance for maintaining and inspecting jetty equipment used at oil and liquefied-gas terminals.

• 2024

  Release of SIRE 2.0Generation change

  Background

  OCIMF's tanker vetting programme required a new generation of inspection and reporting tools for the contemporary marine industry.

  Action taken

  OCIMF released SIRE 2.0 to industry users in September 2024.

  Aftermath

  SIRE 2.0 became the updated framework for tanker inspection and vetting activities under the OCIMF programme.

  Source

• 2022

  Restriction of SIRE access for Russian shipsOther

  Background

  International sanctions introduced after Russia's invasion of Ukraine affected access to industry systems and services.

  Action taken

  OCIMF restricted Russian ships from using the SIRE system.

  Aftermath

  The restriction limited the affected vessels' access to OCIMF's tanker inspection and vetting framework.

  Source

1. 1Oil Companies International Marine Forumen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Official OCIMF websiteocimf.org