Maritime Vetting: How to improve safety and operational efficiency

When discussing the maritime transportation industry, economic, environmental, and human interests converge. But for this system to operate like a well-oiled machine in perfect balance, safety and operational efficiency must be fundamental pillars. Without a doubt, one of the most relevant mechanisms to ensure this efficiency is maritime vetting, which is nothing more than a technical and operational evaluation process that allows shipping companies, terminals, and charterers to make decisions about a vessel’s condition for a specific operation. 

And although its origin is linked to preventing high-impact accidents, vetting has gradually evolved into a strategic tool for maritime operations.

What Is maritime vetting?

Let’s start at the origin: the term vetting comes from the English verb to vet, which means to examine or evaluate carefully. In the maritime context, it refers to an inspection and analysis procedure for vessels, focused on verifying their technical condition, operational history, regulatory compliance, and performance in safety, health, and the environment (SHE). 

It is a process regularly carried out by oil companies, terminal operators, regulatory bodies, and specialized entities as part of their risk-management policies (García Soto, 2016).

Vetting is not a legally mandatory inspection; however, its influence is decisive: if a vessel fails a vetting process, it may be excluded from commercial contracts, especially in highly sensitive sectors such as the transport of hydrocarbons or chemical products. 

Therefore, more than an audit, vetting is a selection filter and quality-control mechanism for the asset.

Origin and evolution of vetting

As we know, maritime vetting emerged in response to large-scale environmental disasters, such as the Exxon Valdez (1989), Erika (1999), and Prestige (2002), which exposed the severe consequences of operating vessels in poor condition. Following these events, private inspection programs were implemented, such as the Oil Companies International Marine Forum’s Ship Inspection Report Programme (SIRE), with the goal of raising safety standards (OCIMF, 2023).

Today, vetting has become professionalized within naval risk management and has also undergone digital transformation to improve maritime safety using tools such as SIRE 2.0, which helps integrate global databases, standardized criteria, and collaborative platforms. Nowadays, not only is the vessel evaluated but also the technical operator, crew, inspection history, and the shipping company’s safety culture.

Key components of the vetting process

To carry out an effective vetting process aligned with standardized procedures, multiple sources of information and evaluation criteria are used. Understanding the scope of the process is essential, as some of the most relevant components include:

• Physical inspections: Conducted by accredited inspectors who verify the structural condition of the vessel, the operability of its safety systems, crew training, and adherence to critical procedures.
• Compliance history: Review of past inspections (SIRE, CDI, PSC), incidents, detentions, and non-conformities.
• Operator assessment: Analysis of the shipping company’s technical management, including maintenance policies, training, internal audits, and safety performance.
• Digital information: Obtained through platforms such as Q88, Equasis, and OCIMF’s to vet, which provide updated information on vessels and operators (Braskem, 2023).

Vetting as a safety tool

The primary goal of vetting is to reduce the likelihood of maritime incidents that could endanger human lives, the environment, and material assets. By doing so, the selection of vessels for operational use minimizes exposure to operational, structural, and human risks.

García Soto (2016) states in his doctoral dissertation that vetting is an effective preventive instrument that encourages shipping companies to maintain high maintenance standards and regulatory compliance. By identifying recurrent deficiencies, vetting provides precise feedback to the industry on critical areas requiring systemic improvements.

For example, oil companies operating in Spain—such as Repsol, Cepsa, and BP—tightened their vetting criteria after the Erika and Prestige disasters, requiring safety levels above legal minimums (1Library, n.d.).

Why is it important to pass a vetting inspection?

While vetting is traditionally associated with maritime safety and fleet management, its impact on operational efficiency is equally significant. To illustrate, a vessel that meets high vetting standards experiences shorter waiting times in port, fewer interruptions due to technical failures, and greater overall reliability.

Additionally, vetting promotes process standardization, continuous improvement, and a culture of operational excellence. This can be clearly seen in Colombia, where terminals such as those of ANPRA have implemented vetting models integrating performance indicators, process digitalization, and inter-institutional collaboration to improve ship-shore interface management (Mera, 2023).

Another example is Mis Marine, whose technological solution centers on delivering Marine Assurance to optimize maritime risk management in the energy sector. To ensure quality, its vetting policy is implemented through the Mainstay Vetting module, designed to simplify the complexity of risk assessment for tankers, offshore units, and support companies.

Mis Marine’s execution of this service guarantees comprehensive assurance for each voyage and contract through advanced analytics and intuitive automation. This enables organizations to make quick, well-supported decisions, integrated with Compliance and Geolocation modules within the platform, thereby mitigating operational risks.

Current challenges in vetting

Despite its well-known benefits, vetting faces several challenges that limit its effectiveness and acceptance:

1. Lack of harmonization: Many vetting programs use different criteria and formats, generating duplicated efforts and, in many cases, confusion among operators.
2. Administrative burden: Preparing for scheduled inspections and managing documentation is costly and demands significant administrative resources.
3. Subjectivity: Even with standardized criteria, differences persist in the interpretation and weighting of findings.
4. Unequal access: Not all organizations have the capacity to carry out vetting programs. Smaller shipping companies face barriers that limit their competitiveness.

How can a company improve its vetting performance?

To maximize the impact of vetting on safety and operational efficiency, the following strategies are recommended:

• Digitalizing the process: Implement platforms that automate data collection, analysis, and reporting to reduce administrative burden and improve traceability.
• Continuous training: Ensure inspectors, crews, and operators are trained in vetting criteria.
• System interoperability: Promote programs such as SIRE, CDI, and PSC through mutual-recognition agreements and shared databases to enhance operational performance.
• Proactive approach: Use vetting not only as a filter but as a tool for improvement by identifying trends, emerging risks, and innovation opportunities.
• Performance indicators: Incorporate metrics related to efficiency, sustainability, and organizational culture into evaluation criteria, aligning vetting with ESG (environmental, social, and governance) objectives.

Conclusion

Proper implementation of vetting not only prevents accidents but also strengthens efficiency, transparency, and sustainability in the maritime industry. However, for its impact to be truly transformational, current challenges must be addressed through international cooperation, technological innovation, and a commitment to continuous improvement. It is worth remembering that neither safety nor efficiency is optional—and this is where vetting positions itself at the heart of a safer and more competitive maritime future.

References

1. Braskem. (2023). Servicios Vetting. Retrieved from https://www.braskem.com/vetting-es 
2. García Soto, D. (2016). El vetting como instrumento preventivo de seguridad marítima: análisis y juicio crítico [Doctoral dissertation, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya]. 
3. ANPRA Colombia. https://eventos.anpracolombia.org
   OCIMF. (2023). Ship Inspection Report Programme (SIRE). 
4. Oil Companies International Marine Forum. https://www.ocimf.org/programmes/sire
5. Revista Marítima. (2025). El impacto crucial de la inspección vetting en la industria marítima. Retrieved from https://revistamaritima.com/2025/02/15/el-impacto-crucial-de-la-inspeccion-vetting-en-la-industria-maritima/
6. 1Library. (n.d.). El vetting: Seguridad marítima en buques tanque. Retrieved from https://1library.co/document/z3d8n7dy-el-vetting-seguridad-maritima-en-buques-tanque.html