The need for maintenance on board and what is often the reality on board

Dear colleagues on board,

Why is maintenance and repair so important on board a ship? Of course, so that everything functions properly and is safe! And when everything on board functions properly and is safe, we have fewer problems and our work is more enjoyable. Soactually only positive things!

But unfortunately, the reality is quite different. We recently visited our MV Helen Anna at the shipyard in Harlingen and were horrified to discover that even simple maintenance work like replacing the rubber seals on the doors and vents, sealing leaking hydraulic lines, replacing defective pressure gauges, preserving rusty fittings, and much more was ignored by the crew.

If you didn't know that the ship is only 15 years old and was built at a very reputable shipyard, you might think we were looking at a 30-year-old rust bucket from the Far East. When we then sent the first pictures of the ship's condition to the owner, tears welled up in his eyes and he was at a loss.

The question we now ask ourselves is: WHY??? Why has general maintenance been neglected on this ship for so long?

The first question that arises is: Did the crew not have time to perform routine maintenance work?

The answer to this is quite clear: No. Time for minor maintenance work on deck is almost always available from spring to fall during sea passages.

The second question is: Did the crew know what and when something needed to be done in terms of maintenance?

The answer: Actually, yes. Because it's not difficult to identify rusty surfaces, leaking pipes, faulty seals, and the like.

The third question is: Did the crew lack the independence to report identified defects and possibly fix them themselves?

The answer is: That could be a cause.

If yes, why did the crew lack independence?

Did the ship's management perhaps not recognize the need for repairs and therefore not request the crew to perform maintenance work?

Yes, that could be obvious. The ship's management doesn't recognize the need and doesn't pass on the relevant orders to the crew.

Now the question again: Why doesn't the ship's management recognize the need?

The answer to this could be a factor called operational blindness. If a captain sails on the same ship for too long, for several years, operational blindness can set in. The solution is then a transfer to another ship.

Or it could simply be a lack of interest. In that case, the solution is: end of contract and no further planning for the HLB fleet.

But how can we motivate our colleagues on board so that they focus more on necessary maintenance work?

One solution might be a Ship Crew Motivation Guide, such as the following:

Ship_Crew_Motivation_Guide.pdf

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Perhaps one of you on board has an idea how we can motivate colleagues who have a maintenance backlog. Experiences from older and more experienced colleagues, such as boatswains and highly motivated sailors, can also be helpful.

Simply share your opinions and suggestions here or by email. We look forward to your support.