Oil Companies International Marine Forum (OCIMF) has launched a Focused Inspection Campaign (FIC) under its SIRE 2.0 tanker inspection program aimed at reinforcing maritime security readiness across the global tanker fleet, reports Marine Link.
OCIMF launches FIC on ship hardening
The initiative comes in response to increasing geopolitical tensions, regional conflicts, and evolving security regulations that directly impact crew welfare, safety, and operational continuity.
The campaign, commenced on October 1, 2025, will run for a minimum of six months, and focuses on ship staff’s familiarity with company procedures and plans for vessel hardening, as well as their understanding of the SIRE 2.0 question 7.2.1 – Ship hardening and access control. Inspectors will address this question during every SIRE 2.0 inspection conducted throughout the campaign period, regardless of where the vessel operates.
Through this campaign, OCIMF seeks to verify that Masters and ship staff understand and can apply company procedures for hardening their ships when operating in areas of increased maritime threats, and to ensure plans and equipment used for ship hardening are effective and well-maintained. An interim review will take place in February 2026, when OCIMF will assess preliminary findings and provide further guidance or updates as necessary.
In the year since the launch of SIRE 2.0 24,000 tanker inspections have been conducted across the global tanker fleet. Findings from the campaign will be analyzed to identify trends and common challenges across the industry. OCIMF may issue recommendations or updates to inspection protocols based on the results and the data will feed into OCIMF’s Maritime Security Committee’s publications and advocacy work, supporting continuous improvement in security and compliance guidance.
OCIMF encourages all operators, ship managers, and crews to review their company procedures and ship hardening plans to ensure they remain robust, effective, and fully implemented.
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Source: Marine Link
