Abstract:
The Safety Management System (SMS) is a crucial instrument in safe ship operations in
accordance with the provisions of the International Safety Management (ISM) Code. This
research is motivated by problems found on the liquid bulk carrier vessels of PT Berlian
Laju Tanker, namely the ineffective follow-up of internal audit findings which leads to the
emergence of recurring Non-Conformance findings during the external audit conducted
by the Indonesian Classification Bureau (BKI). The purpose of this study is to analyze the
factors causing the ineffective follow-up of internal audits and to identify the causes of
the lack of external audit compliance in achieving BKI classification standards at PT
Berlian Laju Tanker. This research uses a qualitative descriptive method with data
collection techniques in the form of direct observation, interviews, and documentation
study. Data analysis is conducted using the Fishbone (Ishikawa) Diagram approach to
identify the root causes of the problems. The results indicate that the ineffective follow-
up of the internal audit is caused by the high administrative workload of the crew, low
motivation for safety reporting (Near Miss), and data synchronization failures of the
Danaos system due to VSAT signal instability. Meanwhile, the lack of BKI external audit
compliance is caused by the implementation of static emergency drill scenarios in
handling liquid bulk cargo, the lack of proactive supervision from the head office, and the
ineffective implementation of thorough physical checking procedures for safety
equipment inventory and their expiry dates. The recommended problem-solving
alternatives are transferring part of the clerical workload to shore staff, instilling a no-
blame culture for safety reporting, carrying out scheduled maintenance of communication
infrastructure, designing dynamic and realistic emergency drill scenarios tailored to
liquid bulk cargo risks, and implementing proactive supervision and disciplined physical
inspections. With the implementation of these steps, it is expected that the ship can
consistently maintain an audit-ready status so that compliance with BKI classification
standards and the smooth operation of voyages can be continuously guaranteed.
