There is an established inspection procedure within Repsol YPF setting the stipulations to be met by tanker vessels to be chartered by the company, or with authorisation to visit its cargo terminals.

This vetting procedure is carried out by a full team of inspectors with technical and operating experience in sea transport, who have the power to veto any vessel not reaching the required standards.

The inspection concentrates on certain aspects, such as the age of the vessel, the ship owner, the flag, the most recent dock inspection, its Classification Society, the crew�s qualifications and experience, the efficiency of equipment for safety and contamination control, loading and ballast systems, fire-fighting equipment, etc.

Repsol YPF has made several changes in its internal regulations to upgrade the standards for chartering tanker vessels. These include:

1. Vessels must be registered by a Classification Society with full membership rights to the IACS, an association comprising the world�s 10 principal Classification Societies.
   
2. Vessels over 15 years old must have passed a dock inspection within the previous thirty months, and a floating inspection within the previous six months.
   
3. Vessels over 20 years old will be required to pass the CAP (Condition Assessment Programme) certificate in all their dock inspections from now onwards. The Classification Societies have set a very high standard of maintenance for vessels to pass this certificate.