Overview

This publication follows each chapter of the latest version of the SIRE Vessel Inspection Questionnaire (VIQ) and provides guidance on the responsibilities for each question in the VIQ. Each ship owner, ship management company/operator or technical manager, referred to from here on in this Guide as “the company” should,under their own Safety Management System (SMS), have their own allocations of such responsibilities onboard.

Vessels' Practical Guide to Vetting (formerly Seafarers' Guide to Vetting Inspections) is the result of an INTERTANKO Vetting Committee initiative and has been written for all Officers and crew on board to enable them to better understand the content and requirements of the SIRE Vessel Inspection Questionnaire (VIQ).

This Guide should be used in conjunction with the latest edition of the OCIMF-SIRE VIQ.

Content

Acknowledgements

 

Foreword

 

Introduction

Chapter 1. General Information

Chapter 2. Certification and Documentation

Chapter 3. Crew Management

Chapter 4. Navigation and Communications

Chapter 5. Safety Management

Chapter 6. Pollution Prevention

Chapter 7. Maritime Security

Chapter 8. Cargo and Ballast Systems – Petroleum

Chapter 8. Cargo and Ballast Systems – Chemical

Chapter 8. Cargo and Ballast Systems – LPG

Chapter 8. Cargo and Ballast Systems – LNG

Chapter 9. Mooring

Chapter 10. Engine and Steering Compartments

Chapter 11. General Appearance and Condition

Chapter 12. Ice Operations

Inspection Close-out Meeting

INTERTANKO Vetting Inspection Feedback Form

Introduction

Introduction

The purpose of this guide is to assist a vessel’s staff to prepare both themselves and the vessel for a ship

inspection.

 

The importance of consistently successful ship inspections cannot be understated, without these vessels will

have extreme difficulties to trade.

 

Good and thorough preparations will not only show an Inspector the competency and professionalism of the

crew, but also how well the vessel is managed.

 

This publication follows each chapter of the latest version of the SIRE Vessel Inspection Questionnaire (VIQ)

and provides guidance on the responsibilities for each question in the VIQ. Each ship owner, ship management

company/operator or technical manager, referred to from here on in this Guide as “the company” should,

under their own Safety Management System (SMS), have their own allocations of such responsibilities on

board.

 

Audited inspections

Ships’ staff must also understand that for SIRE Inspectors to maintain their accreditation, they are required

to undergo an audited inspection, which is one observed/audited by a more senior SIRE Inspector. This will

be explained during the opening meeting onboard. The Master should have been told to expect this by his

company because the company is always asked if they will permit this during an inspection. It is incorrect to

think this will result in many more observations being raised – this is simply not the case and statistical analysis

clearly proves this. It should also be noted that if the SIRE Inspector being audited fails the inspection, the

report will still be completed and issued by the senior auditing inspector. We, as INTERTANKO would hope and

request individual companies to respect and allow such audits to be completed on their vessels.

 

Observers

Inspectors may, on occasion, have observers with them during an inspection. Where the Inspector has an

observer accompanying them, the inspector must introduce the observer to the Master at the same time and in

the same manner as they introduce themselves. Inspectors must clarify the extent and scope of the observer’s

role during the inspection.

 

Observers are generally there to do just that – OBSERVE. They should not generally interfere in the inspection.

 

The guidance notes

Those on board at the forefront of the inspection will usually be the Master, Chief Officer, Chief and 2nd

Engineers, referred to from here on as “Senior Officers”. It should be recognised that underperformance from

any member of the crew could and, most often does, result in negative comments and such comments could

result in the vessel potentially failing a vetting process.

The latest edition of the VIQ has introduced many “competence” questions whereby the Inspector will verify

awareness and familiarity of any Officer and crew member on their knowledge and understanding of many

vessel operations and procedures. It is thus recommended each VIQ Inspector guidance note is read thoroughly

by the appropriate Officer or crew member to ensure full understanding of the requirements of each VIQ

question.

 

Knowledge of the contents of legislation, documents and publications often identified in the guidance notes

must be read in conjunction with the notes.

 Details

Title: INTERTANKO Vessels’ Practical Guide to Vetting 3rd Edition 2019
Number of Volumes: 1
Edition: Second
Number of Pages: 208
Product Code: WS1672K
Published Date: July 2019
Binding Format: Paperback
Book Height: 300 mm
Book Width: 210 mm
Book Spine: 5 mm
Weight: 0.80 kg
Author: Intertanko

 

Introduction

So, with this in mind all personnel on board have an important role to play during an inspection and to ensure

that all perform their duties as part of a well-drilled ship-board team.

It is strongly recommended that all Senior Officers should make themselves familiar with Section 4, “Conduct

of Inspections” of the OCIMF-SIRE VIQ. These contain the requirements