In the late 1980s and early 1990s, it became apparent to major shippers of all petroleum crude, products, chemicals, and gases that many ships were not operated or maintained in the proper industry approved manner. The shippers also realized they could be liable for damage if a petroleum spill occurred. They began a program of vetting and rigorous inspection of all ships to assure themselves the ship transporting their cargo was operated and maintained to the highest standards. This program has accomplished more to provide quality tankers than any other scheme or regulation because if a ship cannot pass the inspection and vetting requirements, it will not be hired to transport cargo.

Most oil companies have extensive inspection programs (vetting) to prevent these poorly operated tankers from entering into their specific service. Even though Pacific L. A. Marine Terminal LLC’ customers orchestrate a vetting process, Pacific LAMT will also conduct our own tanker acceptance program. Once a tanker is nominated to discharge its crude oil cargo at Berth 408, we will activate our acceptance program. The foundation of the Pacific L. A. Marine Terminal LLC inspection will be the Oil Companies International Marine Forum’ SIRE program. The SIRE program is an international inspection library of inspection reports, deposited by certified and specially trained inspectors. All these reports are available to a subscriber of the SIRE system. Tanker owners are much attuned to the SIRE system because they know if their tankers have poor SIRE inspection reports; the likelihood of charter is remote. The subscriber interprets the reports and decides if it wants the tanker to enter in its service or dock at its facility.

1. Pacific L. A. Marine Terminal LLC customer will nominate a tanker for berthing. Give name and IMO Number.
2. Pacific L. A. Marine Terminal LLC will submit the tanker to the SIRE system.
• If the tanker has a SIRE report, the process will continue.
• If the tanker does not have a SIRE report, it will not be allowed to berth until the owner permits a SIRE inspection.
3. Pacific L. A. Marine Terminal LLC will review the SIRE report for outstanding, unresolved inspection items. We will also review the answers to the following questions:
• Has the vessel changed flag in the last two years?
• Has the vessel changed its classification society in the last two years?
• Has the vessel changed ownership in the last two years?
• If applicable, has the vessel changed its operating agent in the last two years?
4. After review of the SIRE report and if all answers to the above questions are “no”, the vessel will be cleared.
5. After review of the SIRE report and if all answers to the above questions are “yes” the vessel will not be cleared under any circumstances.
6. After review of the SIRE report and the answers to the above questions are “mixed”, Pacific L. A. Marine Terminal LLC will require the customer to contact the tanker owner/operator for clarification. If clarifications reverse the “yes” answers to “no” the tanker will be cleared. If some answers remain yes, Pacific L. A. Marine Terminal LLC will review the nominated tanker and decide if it should be allowed to berth. If the tanker is not cleared, it will be the responsibility of the customer to require the tanker to comply for clearance.

Pacific L. A. Marine Terminal LLC believes this extensive Tanker Acceptance process will prevent poorly operated tankers from berthing at Pier 400, Berth 408.