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The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has announced that OCIMF-SIRE inspections will be carried out at all oil terminals in Singapore, issuing procedures and guidelines to be followed by the shipping community.

The new guidelines were developed in consultation with the Singapore Shipping Association, oil terminal operators in Singapore, the International Association of Independent Tanker Owners (INTERTANKO) and the Oil Companies International Marine Forum (OCIMF).

A full list of the guidelines has been included below. Industry Guidelines for SIRE Inspections at Private Oil Terminals in Singapore

1 Inspection requests should be submitted to the terminal at least 3 working days in advance of vessel arrival. Any applications submitted with less than 3 days advance notice will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

2 While the SIRE inspector may arrive early, inspections should only be conducted during the daylight office hours as specified by each individual terminal (0700 to 1900 hours, for instance).

3 A designated Port Captain or Marine Superintendent shall be on-board when the SIRE inspection is being conducted during vessel discharge operation. This will serve to minimise the potential impact the inspection might have on the crew as they conduct cargo operations.

4 Applications should be made by charterers’ agents only, not by the SIRE inspector himself.

5 In the event that the owner of a product denies access in the interest of confidentiality, the terminal will state on the OCIMF- SIRE Inspection Request Form the reason for denying access.

6 Unless the terminal specifically requires landward access, the SIRE inspector must arrive by launch, which will adhere to all relevant regulations put forth by MPA, the terminal and any other stakeholder.

7 The SIRE inspector shall be subject to any additional house rules peculiar to a particular terminal. Details of these rules shall be provided on the Inspection Request Form and may be supplemented by more details where necessary.