Abstract:
The food refrigeration system is one of the vital components supporting the operational
continuity of a ship, especially in maintaining the quality of food supplies during long
voyages. This research aims to analyze the performance of the food refrigeration system
onboard MV. VINCA and to identify the factors causing the system's performance
disturbances. The main problems addressed include the entry of lubricating oil into the
refrigeration system and refrigerant (freon) leakage in the pipeline before the expansion
valve.
This research uses a descriptive qualitative method, with data collected through direct
observation during sea practice, interviews with ship engineers, documentation studies,
and analysis using the fishbone (Ishikawa) diagram method. The findings indicate that
the main disturbances were caused by piston ring wear, malfunctioning oil separator,
poor welding quality, and lack of routine maintenance. These issues led to unstable
cooling temperatures in the meat storage room, dropping from the ideal standard of -
18°C to -20°C to as high as -12°C, threatening the freshness of stored food.
The study concludes that regular maintenance, inspection of critical components, and
improved technical competence of engine crew are crucial to maintaining optimal
refrigeration system performance. It is recommended that each disturbance event be
thoroughly investigated and documented as part of the system’s maintenance evaluation
process.
