If you've read our guides on what SIRE 2.0 is, what changed from VIQ7, and how human factors are assessed, this is where it becomes practical: what to actually do before an inspection.
A practical readiness map for SIRE 2.0 preparation — each stage is covered in detail below.
Understand What You're Preparing For
The single most important mindset shift: the CVIQ generated for your vessel is not shared with you in advance, and it's compiled from a mix of Core, Rotational, Conditional, and occasional Campaign questions. That means "studying likely answers" isn't a real strategy — every question, whatever it turns out to be, gets assessed across hardware, procedures, and human performance. Preparation has to work the same way: broad and genuine, not narrow and rehearsed.
Review: Documentation That Must Be Current
This is the most concrete, checkable part of preparation — and per OCIMF's own guidance, it should be done before requesting the inspection, not scrambled together once a date is booked.
For OCIMF's own guidance on exactly what's required, see the OCIMF SIRE 2.0 programme page — it includes the official photo-upload and tablet-camera guidance referenced above.
Practise: Getting the Crew Ready for Human Factors Questions
As covered in our Human Factors guide, inspectors assess whether crew can explain why a task matters and why a procedure exists — not just whether they can perform it correctly while being watched. The most useful preparation is practising that explanation out loud: run drills as interviews, not just physical run-throughs, and have crew talk through their reasoning as they work.
Verify: Closing the Loop on Previous Findings
Inspection reports remain active in the OCIMF database for 12 months, which means unresolved corrective actions from a previous inspection are visible to the next inspector. Before any new inspection, confirm every prior finding has been properly closed out — this is one of the most preventable sources of repeat findings.
Common Preparation Mistakes
- Treating SIRE 2.0 prep like VIQ7 prep — trying to anticipate a fixed list of questions
- Letting the Photo Repository go stale past the six-month window
- Preparing crew to perform tasks correctly without preparing them to explain their reasoning
- Leaving previous corrective actions open going into a new inspection
- Starting preparation only after the inspection is already booked
Final Pre-Inspection Checklist
- Photo Repository refreshed within the last ~6 months, or immediately after any material change
- PIQ and certificate repository updated and accurate
- All pre-inspection work completed before requesting the inspection
- Crew practised explaining procedures and their reasoning, not just performing tasks
- All corrective actions from the previous inspection closed out and documented
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Get the Full Checklist →Frequently Asked Questions
How far in advance should I start preparing for a SIRE 2.0 inspection?
OCIMF recommends completing all pre-inspection work before requesting an inspection, so treat preparation as continuous rather than something to start once a date is booked.
How often do vessel photos need to be updated?
OCIMF recommends refreshing the Photo Repository at approximately six-month intervals, and immediately whenever the vessel's condition materially changes.
Can crew still memorise likely answers?
Not reliably. The CVIQ isn't shared with the operator in advance, and human-based tasks are assessed through Performance Influencing Factors specifically to check genuine understanding, not rehearsed answers.
What happens if a previous corrective action wasn't closed out?
It remains visible in the OCIMF database for 12 months and can be reviewed by the next inspector, so unresolved corrective actions are a preventable finding.
Where can I find OCIMF's own photo and documentation requirements?
OCIMF publishes official guidance documents, including instructions for uploading photographs and rules for the use of the tablet camera and voice recorder, both available on ocimf.org.