Insights on maintenance and maritime safety in Australia

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority has issued Maritime Safety Awareness Bulletin Issue 20 (September 2024).

This issue emphasizes the critical role of maintenance in ensuring vessel safety, highlighting the importance of planned maintenance systems, hazard identification strategies, regular inspections, and operational testing. Maintenance is vital for safe vessel operations and is a requirement under the International Safety Management (ISM) Code. However, maintenance issues often go unnoticed, leading to safety incidents. Key statistics show an increase in maintenance-related deficiencies and detentions over the past few years, indicating a growing concern in the maritime industry.

Two case studies illustrate the consequences of inadequate maintenance. In the first case, a lifeboat fell into the sea due to corroded davit interlock devices that had not been maintained according to the manufacturer’s guidelines, resulting in minor injuries to crew members. In the second case, an inspection by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority revealed multiple operational failures on a vessel, leading to its detention. The findings pointed to significant deficiencies in the vessel's safety management system.

Maintenance problems often arise from a combination of organizational pressures and latent conditions. Resource pressures contribute to the issue, as seafarers frequently work long hours, which may lead to shortcuts in maintenance. A lack of resources can hinder effective management of maintenance schedules, while fatigue impairs decision-making and response times. Poorly designed maintenance procedures that are outdated or difficult to follow further complicate matters. Additionally, insufficient training for crew on maintenance tasks and ineffective transfer of information during crew handovers can lead to misunderstandings about maintenance status. Unspoken workplace norms and equipment that do not align with operational needs can also result in errors.

To ensure effective maintenance, it is recommended that operators develop a comprehensive planned maintenance system. Regular review and adjustment of inspection and maintenance processes are essential, as is ensuring that resources are adequate for maintenance tasks. Furthermore, operators must report and investigate major equipment failures to the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) to improve future safety measures.