What OCIMF does

OCIMF (Oil Companies International Marine Forum) is a UK-based, independent membership organization founded in 1970 in the aftermath of the Torrey Canyon incident to address maritime safety risk in the energy sector. It serves over 100 member companies spanning oil majors, tanker operators, terminal operators, offshore marine operators, and inland navigation, and operates on a consensus-based model that produces best-practice guidance and assessment tools used industry-wide.

The organization's core offerings are five named inspection and management self-assessment programmes — SIRE 2.0 (Ship Inspection Report Programme), OVID (Offshore Vessel Inspection Database), BIRE (Barges Inspection Regime), MTIS (Marine Terminal Information System), and MSA — complemented by a catalog of 25+ publications covering topics such as ISGOTT 6 (International Safety Guide for Oil Tankers and Terminals), MEG4 (Mooring Equipment Guidelines), TMSA 3, OVMSA, MTMSA, and specialized guides for ship-to-ship transfer, offshore tanker operations, mooring, and competence assurance. The SIRE 2.0 programme is supported by an integrator API enabling Programme Recipients and Submitting Companies to embed inspection data into their own vetting systems. OCIMF holds consultative status at the International Maritime Organization and actively participates in IMO Committees and Working Groups.

OCIMF funds itself primarily through recurring membership dues from its 100+ member companies, supplemented by one-time publication sales (£25 to £465 per title) distributed globally through Witherbys publishing and through its own document library. Co-authorship of flagship publications with strategic partners (ICS, IAPH, SIGTTO, INTERTANKO, INTERCARGO, BIMCO, CDI, CCNR) extends its reach into adjacent maritime communities. The organization's stated vision is "a global marine industry that causes no harm to people or the environment," and its current strategic emphasis covers emerging fuels, human factors, maritime security, and environmental matters in addition to its traditional oil, gas, and petrochemical scope.

Name

OCIMF

Legal name

OCIMF (Oil Companies International Marine Forum)

Website

https://ocimf.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

OCIMF is a London-based membership organization founded in 1970 that produces consensus-based best-practice guidance, inspection programmes (SIRE 2.0, OVID, BIRE, MTIS), and publications for over 100 maritime energy member companies including oil majors, tanker operators, terminal operators, and offshore marine operators worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Maritime Safety Standards & Inspection Programmes

NAICS

Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (541690), Environmental Consulting Services (541620)

SIC

Oil & Gas Field Services, Nec (1389)

akta.pro primary industry

Marine & Offshore Energy O&M (Offshore Wind, Platforms, Subsea Assets) (EUAEAGAO)

akta.pro secondary industry

Oil & Gas Midstream & Pipeline O&M (Pipelines, Compressor Stations) (EUAEAGAF)

Keywords

• Maritime safety guidance
• Tanker inspection programmes
• Marine terminal standards
• Mooring equipment guidelines
• Offshore vessel inspection

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: OCIMF is funded by membership dues from over 100 member companies in the maritime energy industry
2. Publications Sales: Sale of books and publications including guidance documents, standards, and best practice manuals. Prices range from £25 to £465 per publication.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

OCIMF is a membership organization that develops consensus-based best practice guidance, inspection programmes, and assessment tools for the safe and environmentally responsible transportation and handling of oil, petrochemicals, gas, and emerging fuels in maritime operations. It operates tanker, barge, terminal, and offshore inspection programmes (including SIRE 2.0, OVID, BIRE, MTIS, and MSA) and publishes a comprehensive library of industry standards and guidance documents for its 100+ member companies worldwide.

Product overview

OCIMF operates as a membership organization offering a portfolio of inspection programmes and best practice publications for maritime safety in the energy sector. The core inspection programmes include SIRE 2.0 (Ship Inspection Report Programme) for tanker vessels, OVID (Offshore Vessel Inspection Database) for offshore vessels, BIRE (Barges Inspection Regime), MTIS (Marine Terminal Information System), and MSA (Management Self Assessment). These programmes are complemented by a comprehensive library of guidance publications including ISGOTT 6 (International Safety Guide for Oil Tankers and Terminals), MEG4 (Mooring Equipment Guidelines), TMSA 3 (Tanker Management and Self Assessment), OVMSA (Offshore Vessel Management and Self Assessment), and MTMSA (Marine Terminal Management and Self Assessment), along with specialized guides covering ship-to-ship transfers, offshore tanker operations, barge operations, anchoring systems, and competence assurance for various maritime roles. The SIRE 2.0 programme includes an integrator API for programme integration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SIRE 2.0 (Ship Inspection Report Programme)
• OVID (Offshore Vessel Inspection Database)
• BIRE (Barges Inspection Regime)
• MTIS (Marine Terminal Information System)
• MSA (Management Self Assessment) Programme
• Ship to Ship Transfer Guide for Petroleum, Chemicals and Liquefied Gases (2nd Edition)
• International Safety Guide for Oil Tankers and Terminals (ISGOTT 6)
• Mooring Equipment Guidelines (MEG4) — 4th Edition
• Tanker Management and Self Assessment (TMSA 3)
• Offshore Vessel Management and Self Assessment (OVMSA) — 2nd Edition
• Marine Terminal Management and Self Assessment (MTMSA)
• Effective Mooring — 4th Edition
• Guidelines for Offshore Tanker Operations
• Ship to Ship Service Provider Management and Self Assessment — 2nd Edition
• Single Point Mooring Maintenance and Operations Guide (SMOG)
• Competence Assurance Guidelines for Mooring, Loading and Lightering Masters
• Jetty Maintenance and Inspection Guide — 2nd Edition
• International Safety Guide for Inland Navigation Tank-Barges and Terminals (ISGINTT) — 2nd Edition
• USA Barge Operations: Guidelines and Best Practices
• Recommendations for Liquefied Gas Carrier Manifolds
• Recommendations for Oil and Chemical Tanker Manifolds
• Guide to Manufacturing and Purchasing Hoses for Offshore Moorings (GMPHOM)

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• BIMCOcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 May 2020Working with BIMCO, ICS, INTERCARGO & INTERTANKO in collaboration with Nigerian Authorities to improve maritime security. Part of Industry/NIMASA Joint Working Group.
• International Maritime Organization (IMO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOCIMF holds consultative status at the IMO and actively participates in IMO Committees, Correspondence and Working Groups to help inform practical and deliverable regulations for maritime safety.
• International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on ISGOTT 6 (International Safety Guide for Oil Tankers and Terminals) 6th Edition, bringing together expertise from tanker and terminal industries.
• International Chamber of Shipping (ICS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-authored ISGOTT 6 and Ship to Ship Transfer Guide. Collaborate on maritime safety standards and best practices.
• INTERTANKOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates on maritime security initiatives and industry joint working groups.
• INTERCARGOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates on maritime security initiatives and industry joint working groups.
• Society of International Gas Tankers and Terminal Operations (SIGTTO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-authored Recommendations for Liquefied Gas Carrier Manifolds, Jetty Maintenance and Inspection Guide, and Ship to Ship Transfer Guide.
• Central Commission for the Navigation of the Rhine (CCNR)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-authored ISGINTT 2 (International Safety Guide for Inland Navigation Tank-Barges) 2nd Edition for inland waterway operations.
• Chemical Distribution Institute (CDI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-authored Ship to Ship Transfer Guide for Petroleum, Chemicals and Liquefied Gases 2nd Edition.
• QinetiQminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on Ship Security Hull Vulnerability Study to assess tanker hull protection of crew against security threats.
• Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormed Industry/NIMASA Joint Working Group to address piracy in the Gulf of Guinea and improve maritime security for seafarers.
• Nigerian NavyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on maritime security in Nigerian waters and Gulf of Guinea region.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• DNV: Global classification society and maritime standards/certification provider. Broad incumbent — DNV publishes overlapping technical standards (e.g., mooring, tanker safety) and has significantly broader commercial scope than OCIMF, making it both a potential partner and a competitor for standards authority.
• Lloyd's Register: Global classification society with deep tanker and offshore expertise. Broad incumbent — Lloyd's Register issues rules and guidance overlapping OCIMF's areas (mooring, FPSO operations, tanker safety) and represents the larger commercial incumbent OCIMF must coordinate with in the standards ecosystem.

Direct peers

• BIMCO: The world's largest international shipping association, providing contracts, standards, and industry guidance. Direct peer — BIMCO collaborates with OCIMF on maritime security working groups (e.g., NIMASA Joint Working Group) and both serve overlapping shipping audiences.
• Society of International Gas Tanker and Terminal Operators (SIGTTO): Industry body for the LNG and gas carrier sector. Direct peer — SIGTTO has co-authored OCIMF publications including Jetty Maintenance & Inspection Guide, STS Transfer Guide, and Recommendations for Liquefied Gas Carrier Manifolds, with closely aligned membership and mandate.
• International Chamber of Shipping (ICS): Principal international trade association for the global shipping industry. Direct peer — ICS co-authored OCIMF's flagship ISGOTT 6 and the Ship to Ship Transfer Guide, and both bodies sit in the same London maritime policy cluster with overlapping membership.
• INTERTANKO: International Association of Independent Tanker Owners representing the independent tanker industry. Direct peer to OCIMF — both are London-based maritime industry associations serving the tanker value chain, and they frequently co-author publications and joint working groups (e.g., Gulf of Guinea maritime security initiative).
• International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH): Global alliance of ports and harbors. Direct peer — IAPH co-authored ISGOTT 6 with OCIMF and ICS, addressing the ship/shore interface from the port operator side, complementing OCIMF's tanker/terminal remit.
• INTERCARGO: International Association of Dry Cargo Shipowners. Direct peer — INTERCARGO works alongside OCIMF on maritime security initiatives and joint working groups and serves a comparable shipowner/member-driven mandate.

Others

• Witherbys Publishing: Specialist maritime publisher and OCIMF's distribution partner for publications. Others — comparable to OCIMF in the maritime content/publishing niche but operates commercially rather than as a membership body, and serves as OCIMF's primary bookstore channel.

Emerging players

• Society for Gas as a Marine Fuel (SGMF): Industry body focused on gas (LNG, methanol, etc.) as a marine fuel. Emerging player — narrower focus than OCIMF on the bunker fuel transition, but increasingly relevant as OCIMF extends into emerging fuels; SGMF could become either a partner or a competing authority for new-fuel guidance.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ocimf

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about OCIMF