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Home › Survey & Certification › CDI-M
Operational guide · Certification & surveys

CDI-M: the Ship Inspection Report for chemical tankers, gas carriers and beyond

The CDI-M SIR, a voluntary industry scheme in its 10th Edition applicable since 5 February 2024, uses a common questionnaire and ship-type Chapter 5; customers or terminals may require it contractually, but the inspection alone does not determine charter eligibility.

CDICDI-MShip Inspection Reportvettingchemical tankers

Operational Explanation

CDI-M is a voluntary inspection programme and database used for risk assessment. The SIR does not assign a pass/fail result or guarantee commercial acceptance. The 10th Edition, launched on 5 February 2024, must be used with current amendments and the correct inspection type. CDI subsequently introduced China Domestic Trade developments and reported its first completed LCO₂ inspection on 24 August 2026.

Regulatory Reference

CDI-M — current documents; inspection process; CDI announcements — China Domestic Trade and LCO₂. Industry rules and contractual conditions, distinct from statutory duties.

Prepare a Self-Inspection Document (SID) before attendance for each requested inspection type. The inspector samples 15% of SI answers; incorrect answers cause a return to a full inspection. A report remains active in the database for 12 months, but validity is limited to 3 months where no cargo operations take place. A change of Technical Manager must be reported to CDI and may cause earlier archiving. Combination reports also depend on the cargo type actually handled. These periods do not establish commercial acceptance by a client. CDI-M Inspection Procedures, Rev07/2024, SID; §4.11.

Scope of Application

The initial 10th Edition arrangement includes Chemical, LPG, LNG, Product and Bulk, plus Combination. This does not exhaust later developments: confirm the inspection type with CDI for China Domestic Trade and the LCO₂ programme. Do not infer the applicable questionnaire solely from the declared cargo.

Procedure / How to Complete It

  1. Select the correct inspection type and confirm the edition in use.
  2. Prepare evidence for common sections and the relevant Chapter 5.
  3. Provide safe access and verifiable answers during inspection.
  4. Review observations and comments in the CDI system.
  5. Manage actions through Company CAPA according to risk, without automatically reclassifying them as ISM non-conformities.

Practical Example

A product tanker is inspected against the common sections and Product Chapter 5. A customer with report access applies its own criteria: availability of the SIR is an input and does not alone guarantee or preclude a fixture.

What Typically Goes Wrong

Presenting CDI-M as a mandatory certificate, equating every observation with an ISM non-conformity, or promising an automatic commercial outcome confuses roles and creates wrong priorities.

Common Mistakes Mistake Library

MistakeConsequenceHow to avoid it
Wrong inspection typeIrrelevant scopeCheck type and Chapter 5
Commercial outcome assumedUnsupported decisionApply the individual customer’s criteria

What the PSCO Checks

The CDI-M SIR is not a statutory certificate. PSC checks applicable instruments and ship condition; a CDI report does not replace required certificates, surveys or audits.

Operational Tips

Preparation checklist

FAQ

When was the 10th Edition launched?
It was launched on 5 February 2024; for inspections during the transition, verify the edition assigned to the request.
How many inspection types does it cover?
The initial arrangement has five plus Combination; also check subsequent CDI developments, including China Domestic Trade and LCO₂.
Does a SIR automatically decide whether a ship is chartered?
No. Users apply their own criteria together with applicable rules and available information.

Related Topics

HSSC and SIRE 2.0 vetting coordinationIBC Code: chemical tankersIGC Code: liquefied gasesTMSA: the Company's self-assessmentTank Cleaning

Last substantive revision of this page: 16 September 2026 · page fingerprint 38b10cd96ea2