SIRE 2.0 didn't just rename an existing questionnaire — it replaced the structure tanker operators had relied on for years with something built differently from the ground up. If you've read our introduction to SIRE 2.0, this guide goes one level deeper: what specifically changed from VIQ7, what stayed the same, and where to find OCIMF's own official comparison.
A Short History: From SIRE to VIQ7
SIRE 2.0 didn't appear out of nowhere. It's the latest point in a programme OCIMF has revised repeatedly since the 1990s:
Timeline reflects milestones documented in OCIMF's own VIQ7 programme history and public announcements. Dates not explicitly confirmed by OCIMF are omitted rather than estimated.
VIQ7 itself — the version SIRE 2.0 ultimately replaced — was published on 17 September 2018, following a series of earlier VIQ revisions dating back to the 1990s. By January 2022, OCIMF had released the SIRE 2.0 Question Library alongside an official document mapping VIQ7 content into it. The full transition to SIRE 2.0 as OCIMF's only tanker inspection tool was completed on 2 September 2024.
The Core Differences
| Aspect | VIQ7 | SIRE 2.0 |
|---|---|---|
| Question source | Fixed, printed questionnaire | Question Library, compiled per inspection (CVIQ) |
| Question set | Same for every vessel | Unique per inspection |
| Response format | Binary Yes / No | Graded scale |
| Focus | Mostly hardware and procedures | Hardware, procedures, and human factors |
| Predictability | High — could be rehearsed | Low — compiled for each inspection |
| Recording | Largely paper-based | Tablet-based, with photo evidence |
| Report validity | 12 months | 12 months (unchanged) |
What Stayed the Same
It's easy to focus only on what changed, but a few structural elements carried over directly from the previous programme — worth knowing so preparation efforts aren't misdirected:
Where to Go for the Official Comparison
This guide explains the practical, day-to-day differences maritime professionals are likely to care about. For the authoritative, question-by-question mapping between the two programmes, OCIMF itself is the right source.
For the authoritative mapping between VIQ7 and SIRE 2.0, see OCIMF's official SIRE 2.0 – VIQ7 Comparative Analysis document. This guide explains the practical differences; the OCIMF document provides the underlying comparison.
What This Means for Preparation
Because the question set is no longer fixed, "studying the VIQ7 book" is no longer a meaningful preparation strategy. Crews and vetting teams now need to understand the structure of the CVIQ, the graded response scale, and how human-factors assessment works in practice — not memorise a printed list.
Frequently Asked Questions
When exactly did SIRE 2.0 replace VIQ7?
SIRE 2.0 permanently replaced VIQ7 on 2 September 2024, becoming OCIMF's sole tanker inspection programme.
Is VIQ7 still used at all?
No. OCIMF states that the VIQ7 question set is not used in any SIRE inspection following the transition to SIRE 2.0.
Does OCIMF publish an official comparison between VIQ7 and SIRE 2.0?
Yes. OCIMF released the "SIRE 2.0 – VIQ7 Comparative Analysis" document in January 2022 to help map elements of VIQ7 into the new SIRE 2.0 Question Library.
Did the 12-month validity of inspection reports change with SIRE 2.0?
No. Reports remain active in the OCIMF database for 12 months from publication, the same validity period used previously.
Does SIRE 2.0 currently cover barges the way the earlier SIRE programme did?
SIRE 2.0 currently applies to tankers. Coverage for other vessel types is a separate, evolving area of OCIMF's programmes rather than something folded into SIRE 2.0 itself.