<![CDATA[Lifeboats are among the most important life-saving appliances on board, and the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) 1974 requires them to be maintained, inspected, and exercised so that they are ready for immediate use. This study analyses the implementation of lifeboat maintenance on the bulk carrier MV Sakti and evaluates its conformity with SOLAS requirements. A descriptive qualitative design was used, with data collected through direct observation, interviews with officers and ratings involved in lifeboat maintenance, and a review of regulations and literature during the authors’ sea practice from 10 December 2020 to 10 September 2021. During a drill held in February 2021 at Biringkassi Port, South Sulawesi, one day before an inspection by a marine inspector, the lifeboat could be lowered normally, but the release hook jammed and could not be released from the falls. The jamming was caused by thick rust on the hook plate, formed by cement cargo dust that had not been cleaned off. The interviews showed that weekly maintenance focused on greasing the davit wires and davits, while small components such as the hook plate were neglected, and that lifeboat drills were held too rarely for the problem to be detected. The study concludes that lifeboat maintenance and drills on the MV Sakti had not been fully implemented in accordance with SOLAS. Planned maintenance of all release gear components according to the weekly checklist, regular cleaning of cement dust, more frequent drills, and crew training are recommended.]]>
