Vetting Radar #1
What changed in tanker vetting rulebooks, with a link to every source. Issue date: 17 October 2026. Everything below was checked against the linked public document on 17 Oct 2026. Always verify at source before acting.
1. RightShip tanker baseline criteria: Revision 4.0 is in force (1 Oct 2026)
RightShip, one of OCIMF's Third Party Vetting Contractors, has reissued its Oil, Gas and Chemical Vessel Vetting Baseline Criteria as Revision 4.0, dated 1 October 2026. The revisions log says the document was "extensively reformatted and rewritten". What stands out for operators:
- PSC detentions: 3 or more in the last 24 months = Unacceptable. 2 in 24 months, or 1 in 12 months, = subject to review. Close-outs and an acceptable SIRE dated after the detention may be required.
- Age: maximum 25 years for tankers, 25 for LPG, 35 for LNG, with case-by-case exceptions for trades such as the Great Lakes.
- CAP: tankers and LPG carriers over 20,000 DWT from 15 years, and LNG from 20 years, need CAP 2 minimum for hull, machinery and cargo systems, from an IACS member with Level 2 FDA. Validity is 36 months.
- Inspection currency: an acceptable SIRE/CDI physical examination within the previous 6 months.
- Paperwork freshness: the crew matrix must be dated within the past 30 days. An HVPQ not updated in the last 3 months triggers review.
- New rule: any unknown attribute (DOC company, class, flag, P&I) keeps the vessel Unacceptable until it is verified.
These are recommended baselines. Each RightShip customer can set stricter rules. Source: RightShip Baseline Criteria Rev 4.0 (PDF)
2. CDI adds chapters 15–24 to the SIR, launching Monday 14 December 2026
CDI announced (news dated 15 Sep 2026) its "Alternative Energy & Power Supply" (AEPS) questionnaire. It adds ten chapters to the 10th Edition Ship Inspection Report:
15 Marine biofuels · 16 Methanol/ethanol as fuel · 17 Ammonia as fuel · 18 LPG as fuel · 19 LNG as fuel · 20 Wind-assisted propulsion · 21 Onshore power supply · 22 Fuel cells · 23 ShaPoLi / EPL · 24 Onboard carbon capture.
The chapters come with "associated updates to section and question numbering". The change applies to the full SIR, the CDI Marine Report Editor and the CDI database, for all vessel types and inspection types CDI covers. Official launch: Monday 14 December 2026.
Action: if you map CDI question numbers in your own pre-vetting checklists or software, plan to remap them before mid-December. Source: CDI-Marine news
3. OCIMF: what's in the revision pipeline
- TMSA3 and MEG4 revisions, plus SIRE question guidance. At its March 2026 meeting, OCIMF's Tankers, Barges & Terminal Interfaces committee was briefed on a revised way of working for revising MEG4 and TMSA3, on plans for revisions to SIRE question guidance, and on a Programmes Modernisation Project. No dates have been announced. We are tracking these and will flag publication. OCIMF Members' News #157
- New SIRE Cat-1 inspector course. OCIMF ran its revised Cat-1 new-inspector course for the first time (London, 7–11 Sep 2026). It is a seven-week blended course with workshops and staged assessments; 14 member organisations sent candidates. Members' News #163
- Revised information paper: Safety Critical Equipment and Spare Parts Guidance. This replaces the 2018 first edition. Worth reading alongside your PMS/defect procedures, since SIRE 2.0 Q2.4.1 (defect reporting) is a frequent source of observations. Members' News #163
- MEG5 consultation closes 23 Oct 2026. OCIMF wants practitioner input to the 5th edition of the Mooring Equipment Guidelines, through a survey and a MEG4 comment register. Members' News #163
- Ship-hardening Focused Inspection Campaign (Q7.2.1). The campaign began 1 Oct 2025 for at least six months, with every SIRE 2.0 inspection covering Q7.2.1. OCIMF press release, 29 Oct 2025 (PDF)
4. Who requires what: quick reference
| Owner | Max age (oil/chem tanker) | SIRE age | CAP trigger |
|---|---|---|---|
| bp | 20 yrs (>5,000 dwt) | < 6 months | CAP 2, >20k dwt, from 15 yrs* |
| ADNOC PPA | 20 yrs (>5,000 DWT) | ≤ 6 months + ADNOC SIRE ≤ 24 months | CAP 2 hull, >15 yrs & >20k DWT |
| RightShip baseline | 25 yrs | SIRE/CDI ≤ 6 months | CAP 2 H/M/C, >20k DWT from 15 yrs |
| Repsol | 25 yrs | OCIMF ≤ 6 months (more if ≥ 20 yrs) | CAP 2 H/M/C, ≥15 yrs & >5k SDWT |
| Trans Mountain | <15, up to 20 with CAP 2 | SIRE/OVID ≤ 7 months | CAP 2 Hull & MC, 15–20 yrs |
| Port of Fujairah | >25 yrs not permitted | — | — |
*bp's own pages are inconsistent (15 yrs / 3rd special survey vs 20 yrs / 4th special survey). See the notes in the full table. Full, searchable table with sources: /table.html
5. Dates to watch
- 23 Oct 2026: MEG5 survey and MEG4 comment register close (OCIMF)
- 30 Nov 2026: Paris/Tokyo MoU CIC on cargo securing ends (low relevance to tankers)
- 14 Dec 2026: CDI AEPS chapters 15–24 go live
Vetting Radar is an independent publication. It is not affiliated with OCIMF, CDI, RightShip, any oil major, terminal, or any employer. It summarises public documents only. Nothing here is advice, and requirements are applied case by case. Always verify at source.
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