A novel methodology to develop risk-based maintenance strategies for fishing vessels

Abstract

Fishing vessels often encounter propulsion machinery faults, resulting in the main propulsion system (MPS) failure. MPS failure can lead to safety and economic loss. Maintenance programming is an effective way to mitigate MPS failures. Given the nature of the fishing business, corrective and preventive maintenance approaches are not best suited for fishing vessels’ maintenance needs. This study presents a risk-based maintenance (RBM) methodology to develop a maintenance plan for fishing vessels. The methodology uses simple steps to design a tailormade maintenance plan for a given vessel. Central to the methodology is the “MPS OOBN model” that assists in estimating maintenance interval time for MPS subsystems and components needing maintenance. The study used a new method, the “Goal-directed risk identification technique (Goal-DRIT)”, to define the risk factors employed in developing the “MPS OOBN model”. The RBM methodology is benchmarked with the publicly available literature, and it also demonstrates 24.78% savings in the budgeted maintenance cost, for an example fishing vessel operating in Ghana. The methodology and proposed models are recommended to the commercial fishing industry, chief engineers, and superintendents of marine vessels to aid their maintenance programme design needs.