Criticality Analysis of Shipboard Equipment in Chemical Tanker Cargo Discharge Operations

Abstract

Chemical tanker cargo discharge operations are inherently hazardous, and equipment failures during these operations can pose serious environmental, operational, and safety risks. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first academic study to determine the criticality levels of shipboard equipment specifically used during chemical tanker cargo discharge operations and to provide an assessment that can be directly applied to maintenance prioritization in practice. Using the Criticality Assessment Algorithm, 21 types of equipment were evaluated based on assessments provided by 15 experts. The results classified 17 equipment types as Class A (very critical) and four as Class B (critical). The adopted method revealed differences in the criticality levels of equipment involved in this highly hazardous operation, thereby providing a practical basis for shipboard maintenance prioritization. The findings may serve as a valuable reference for prioritizing ship maintenance plans, and the method may be adapted to other ship types and operational context in the future.