Beyond checklist compliance: a mixed-methods study of seafarer perspectives on life-saving appliance operational readiness

Life-saving appliances (LSAs) are essential to maritime emergency preparedness, but formal compliance does not necessarily reflect their operational readiness under shipboard conditions. This study utilised a mixed-methods design, comprising an online survey of 54 seafarers, along with semi-structured interviews with six purposively selected seafarers, to explore seafarer perspectives on LSA maintenance, inspection practices, and operational readiness. It found that time pressure, insufficient training, shortage of crew, lack of spare parts, and commercial pressure were important issues that need to be addressed for planned maintenance. Of the respondents in this sample, 70% said they experienced LSA defects in either drills or during actual use that were previously unnoticed during routine inspections. Qualitative data also revealed the significance of functional testing, documentation, competence among the crew, and organisational support. Combining the results, the research recommends an LSA Operational Readiness Framework with five interrelated components: Equipment Condition, Functional Testing, Crew Competence, Documentation Integrity, and Organizational Support. The framework offers a practical approach to thinking about operational readiness, in addition to formal regulatory compliance. The results indicate that functional checks, accurate defect reporting, and realistic drills should be a priority for onboard crews, while shipping companies should allocate sufficient service support, training, and spare parts, and external inspectors should supplement documentation review with functional checks and verify crew familiarity.