"I would like to express my sincere appreciation to OCIMF’s Maritime Security Committee, Security Adviser and Publications Team, along with all BMP Working Group members for sharing your expertise and commitment on this collaboration."
Director's Log
On Monday, 31 March 2025, maritime industry associations BIMCO, ICS, IMCA, INTERCARGO, INTERTANKO and OCIMF, supported by over 40 maritime stakeholders, released the consolidated and enhanced Best Management Practices (BMP) for Maritime Security.
This interactive online publication consolidates previous regional editions of BMP into a single, comprehensive document with actionable insights.
In the current heightened threat environment, where seafarers face unprecedented security challenges, the maritime community needs clear guidance on how to identify threats and implement mitigations to manage the associated risk. This publication builds on a successful series of BMPs, combining the best information available with welfare support for seafarers into one document.
I would like to express my sincere appreciation to OCIMF’s Maritime Security Committee, Security Adviser and Publications Team, along with all BMP Working Group members for sharing your expertise and commitment on this collaboration. Your valuable input has been instrumental in shaping the final product, and your dedication to advancing our shared goals has made a meaningful impact.
This publication is a true reflection of how we can support the industry together.
Karen Davis
Director OCIMF
Industry associations launch updated BMP
OCIMF is pleased to announce the publication of BMP Maritime Security, a joint-industry publication that replaces all previous iterations of BMP.
BMP Maritime Security is an interactive online publication, that consolidates previously published regional editons into a single, comprehensive publication with actionable insights and advice. It focuses on providing a threat and risk management process and, recognising the dynamic nature of regional security situations, provides signposts to direct users to the most up-to-date security intelligence and risk assessment information.
BMP Maritime Security is available to download free of charge here: https://www.ocimf.org/publications/information-papers/bmp-maritime-security
BMP Maritime Security supersedes BMP5 – Best Management Practices To Deter Piracy And Enhance Maritime Security in the Red Sea, Gulf Of Aden, Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea, BMP West Africa and Global Counter Piracy Guidance For Companies, Masters and Seafarers which are no longer available on the OCIMF website. Please remove any copies and refer to BMP Maritime Security instead.
SIRE 2.0 hits the six-month mark
It has been six months since industry completed the transition to SIRE 2.0; a significant leap forward in how industry manages and mitigates risk onboard tankers.
OCIMF is thankful to its programme users for their commitment in adapting to SIRE 2.0 and the contribution this has made to the success of the roll-out. During the first six months of SIRE 2.0:
- 9,926 SIRE 2.0 inspection reports have been published.
- 1,004 SIRE 2.0 inspections are currently booked.
OCIMF is providing additional training and support to inspectors in the assessment of human factors and recommends that vessel operators and crews ensure they are familiar with the vessel’s Safety Management Systems (SMS) and OCIMF’s training materials and guidance documents available here.
While it is still early days, industry stakeholders have been leveraging the enhanced reporting capabilities that SIRE 2.0 provides, which was a goal from the outset, and this will only strengthen further with time and the accumulation of datapoints.
As with all OCIMF initiatives, continuous improvement is a key focus for the project team and the Vessel Inspection Programme (VIP) Steering Group. Since its launch, user feedback on SIRE 2.0 has been addressed and refinements have been made to improve clarity and consistency in reporting while SIRE 2.0 Quality Assessors work to standardise reports.
All users are encouraged to share their experience and insights through the Suggestions for Improvement Portal (SFI) from their SIRE 2.0 account. For urgent technical assistance, contact the SIRE 2.0 Support Desk at
Thank you for your continued engagement and commitment to safety.
For more information, contact Aaron Cooper, Programmes Director,
OCIMF and QatarEnergy discuss opportunities for engagement
OCIMF secretariat members travelled to Doha to meet with member company QatarEnergy’s marine leadership team on 6 March.
QatarEnergy provided a comprehensive update on the scope of their marine operations and expansion projects. The OCIMF team gave an update on current and future focus areas, including opportunities for QatarEnergy’s engagement. The group discussed challenges currently facing the maritime industry. That evening, QatarEnergy hosted OCIMF at a traditional iftar meal overlooking Doha harbour.
For more information, contact Darron Biddle, Publications and Advocacy Director,
New edition of SPM Hawser guidelines out now
OCIMF is pleased to announce the publication of the second edition of Guidelines for the Purchasing and Testing of SPM Hawsers.
This publication provides detailed guidance on the specification, purchasing, testing and design particulars of mooring hawsers. The second edition includes rope design particulars and documents, including the Offer of Hawser Form and the OCIMF Compliance Certificate, ensuring rope manufacturers, purchasers and inspectors have the latest guidance and information.
The first edition of this publication is no longer current practice and any digital versions should be removed from your computer.
Visit the OCIMF website for more information and to buy the book.
Publications and Advocacy Offshore Committee
10th meeting: 25-26 March (London)
Chair: Don Davis (Chevron)
Vice-Chairs: Matthieu Bougeant (TotalEnergies)
Secretary: Darron L. Biddle (OCIMF P&A Director)
The10th meeting of the Publications and Advocacy Offshore Committee (PAOC) was hosted at OCIMF’s Offices in London on 25 and 26 March 2025. OCIMF member representatives were joined by International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) and International Association of Oil and Gas Producers (IOGP), both memorandum of understanding partners with OCIMF, who provided updates on their respective activities and key focus areas for 2025 and beyond.
The PAOC later received updates from and provided guidance to the Floating Systems and Offshore Vessel Operations Expert Groups, OCIMF Functional Committees and OCIMF Publications Team. Notable accomplishments for the period included publication of the Guidelines for the Purchasing and Testing of SPM Hawsers, Second Edition. Following these updates, members discussed and agreed revisions to the PAOC multiyear prioritisation plan.
For more information, contact Darron L. Biddle, P&A Director,
Publications and Advocacy Tankers, Barges and Terminal Interfaces Committee
10th meeting: 4-5 March (Dubai)
Chair: Aled Roberts (BP)
Vice-Chairs: Raj Shetty (ENOC), Paul Tait (Chevron)
Secretary: Darron L. Biddle (OCIMF P&A Director)
The P&A Tankers, Barges and Terminal Interfaces (TBT) Committee met in Dubai on 4 and 5 March 2025 for its 10th meeting, hosted by member Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC). OCIMF member representatives were joined by the Society of International Gas Tanker and Terminal Operators Ltd (SIGTTO) Interim GM who provided an update on activities and key focus areas for 2025 and beyond. The TBT also received updates from and provided guidance on future activities to the six expert groups reporting to TBT. Notable accomplishments for the period included revision of South/Central America and North America Barge Inspection Questionnaires and publication of the information paper, Emission Capture and Control at Berth: Preliminary Safety Recommendations. Following these updates, members discussed and agreed revisions to the TBT multiyear prioritisation plan.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Vice-Chair Raj Shetty (ENOC) assumed the Chair position from outgoing Chair, Aled Roberts. The Committee and Secretary recognise and thank Aled for his leadership and guidance to the TBT, serving as Chair since the second meeting of TBT in March 2021.
For more information, contact Darron L. Biddle, P&A Director,
Barging news
South and Central American OCIMF members gathered at Raizen Argentina’s office in Buenos Aires from 10–14 March to work on developing the Global Barge Guide.
The week began with a visit to Arpel (Association of Oil, Gas and Renewable Energy Companies of Latin America and the Caribbean) at their office in Montevideo, Uruguay. This association aims to strengthen the industry as a supplier of sustainable energy in the region and contribute to the global energy transition.
For the remainder of the week, the members worked on the structure and content of the Global Barge Guide. The aim of the guide is to provide best practice guidance for the barging industry worldwide.
OCIMF would like to thank Raizen for their hospitality and the members for their input during this week.
For any queries, contact Ton Mol, Barge Adviser,
IMO news
11th session of the Sub-committee on Ship Systems and Equipment (SSE 11)
SSE 11 was held at the IMO headquarters from 24–28 February 2025, with the following developments of relevance to OCIMF members taking place:
Life Saving Appliances
- SOLAS Chapter III and the International Life Saving Appliances (LSA) Code: future work plan.
- Simulated launching of free-fall lifeboats: enabling testing without launching of craft.
- Draft new requirements for ventilation of partially enclosed lifeboats: defining air quality requirements.
- Discussion on the requirements for self-righting and canopied reversible liferafts for cargo ships: highlighting the physical challenges of manually righting large liferafts at sea.
Other safety and fire protection matters
- Draft revised Code of Practice for atmospheric oil mist detectors: reflecting experience and current best practices.
- Control of Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) emissions from tankers: proposed higher opening pressure for cargo tank Pressure-Vacuum (PV) valves.
Relevant IMO/IACS Unified Interpretations (UIs)
- Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) ban: agreement of an IMO UI to clarify compliance criteria.
- Clarification of documentary requirements for non-certified lifting appliances.
- IACS UI SC305: SOLAS regulation II-1/26.2 regarding reliability of essential propulsion components.
- IACS UI SC 307: SOLAS regulation II-2/4.5.10 regarding protection of cargo pumprooms.
49th session of the IMO Facilitation Committee (FAL 49)
The Facilitation Committee or FAL looks at international maritime trade facilitation, which includes aspects related to port calls and related formalities, but also the role of digitalisation to improve communications and processes. FAL 49 was held at the IMO headquarters from 10–14 March 2025, with the following developments of relevance to OCIMF members taking place:
FAL Convention and maritime key worker
The FAL Convention includes standards, recommended practices and rules for streamlining formalities related to a ship’s arrival and departure from ports. FAL 49 acknowledged a need to clarify the definition of 'key worker' for the maritime industry and make a concerted effort between the IMO, International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) to address the issue.
The IMO Compendium on Facilitation and Electronic Business
The IMO Compendium acts as a reference model to harmonise the format for all information exchanges within the maritime field, required by or of relevance to the IMO. The reference model does this by defining data content between and from stakeholders that is logical and exchangeable. The IMO Compendium is regularly updated as new data sets are developed. The latest version includes a new data set for fuel oil consumption and CII reporting to streamline environmental reporting from ship to shore.
Other matters
The following activities also took place during FAL 49:
- An update to FAL.6/Circ.11/Rev.1 Guidelines on minimum training and education for mooring personnel related to ship/port interface to include training and knowledge requirements for shore-based personnel.
- Final approval of the 2017 Guidelines on Maritime Cyber Risk Management as MSC-FAL.1/Circ.3/ Rev.3.
- Establishment of an intersessional working group to develop the IMO Strategy on Maritime Digitalisation, and reporting to FAL 50 in 2026.
Upcoming meetings
The 83rd session of the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 83), which is expected to approve the mid-term measures to deliver on the 2023 IMO GHG Strategy, will be held at the IMO HQ from the 7–11 April. An intersessional working group on GHG and Air Pollution and Energy Efficiency will meet in the week prior to MEPC 83. OCIMF plans to participate in these meetings.
For enquiries regarding IMO matters, contact Abhijit Aul, Risk and Regulatory Affairs Adviser,