Refresher Courses (SIRE)
SIRE Programme
A schedule of refresher courses for the SIRE Category-3 programme will begin on 9 January 2024.
Places will be allocated to ensure all existing SIRE Category-3 inspectors undertake their refresher courses as required by the current accreditation guidelines.
All SIRE Category-1 inspectors due to undertake refresher courses in 2024 will be allocated a course by OCIMF.
New Inspector Courses (SIRE)
SIRE Programme
SIRE Category-1: A training programme for new SIRE Category-1 inspectors will start after the SIRE 2.0 inspection programme has been launched and implemented.
The SIRE 2.0 inspection programme will be allowed to operate for a period of six months to enable applicant inspectors to complete accompanied inspections as per the requirements by the current accreditation guidelines.
The latest update on the launch of the SIRE 2.0 programme can be accessed here.
SIRE Category-3: New SIRE Category-3 inspector training courses will be scheduled for 2024 where applicants have been nominated by submitting companies.
Inspector Audits (Initial and Renewal)
SIRE Category-1 inspectors: As a result of the impact of COVID-19, OCIMF suspended the requirement for existing inspectors to be assessed during physical inspections. This suspension remains in place and an alternate process is being used to review and continuously improve the performance of existing inspectors. These inspector performance reviews will be carried out by OCIMF and will be prioritised according to the original accreditation expiry date for each inspector.
Information on the requirement to carry out assessments during physical inspections will be issued after the launch of the SIRE 2.0 inspection programme.
SIRE Category-3 inspectors: The audited inspection process for SIRE Category-3 inspectors does not change. Renewal audits for SIRE Category-3 inspectors in North America (NA), South and Central America (SACA) and Europe will continue to follow the requirements in the current accreditation guidelines once they are restarted.
Initial audit:
SIRE Category-1 inspectors: Under the SIRE 2.0 inspection programme, applicant inspectors will be required to undergo an initial assessed inspection during a physical SIRE 2.0 inspection to gain accreditation.
SIRE Category-3 inspectors: The audited inspection process for SIRE Category-3 inspectors does not change. SIRE Category-3 inspectors in NA, SACA and Europe will be required to undertake an initial audit following the requirements in the current accreditation guidelines.
Accreditation Expiry Dates
SIRE Category-1 inspectors: Accreditation expiry dates for all SIRE Category-1 inspectors have been extended to align inspector accreditations with their original dates of expiry. All SIRE Category-1 inspectors will be issued with virtual ID cards on their inspection tablets. In the interim, until inspectors receive their tablets, they will be able to use a paper-based ID letter delivered to their SIRE accounts.
SIRE Category-3 inspectors: There are no changes to the inspector accreditations and updated inspector ID cards will be sent out in all cases.
ECDIS Training (SIRE Cat-1)
All existing SIRE Category-1 inspectors are required to have undertaken a one-day ECDIS training course for inspectors. Inspectors that have not undertaken this course will be allocated to a course and will be notified accordingly.
Travel
Any candidate travelling for SIRE/OVID new inspector courses will be required to take into consideration all costs of travel and/or accommodation and should comply with all applicable local, national, or international health and safety requirements when travelling.
Applications
Applications for new inspector courses should be submitted at the earliest opportunity to allow sufficient time for logistics, such as the setup of venues, visa applications, accommodation, and travel arrangements.
OCIMF will review courses up to three months before their start dates to determine if a course will take place.
Cancellations
While every effort is made to ensure that courses are run as scheduled, OCIMF reserves the right to cancel published courses at any time. In such cases, OCIMF is not responsible for any costs related to travel or accommodation that may be incurred by candidates.
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