From procedural knowledge to emergency decision-making competence: a qualitative study of post-sea-practice maritime cadets

Maritime emergency competence requires more than procedural knowledge, as seafarers must make effective decisions under pressure. This study explored how nautical cadets who had completed sea practice (prala) interpreted maritime emergencies and search and rescue (SAR) situations, prioritised actions and communicated under pressure. An interpretive qualitative approach was conducted at Sekolah Tinggi Ilmu Pelayaran (STIP) Indonesia, involving semi-structured interviews with 60 cadets and 10 instructors, supported by regulatory document analysis. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Five themes emerged: procedural anchoring, developing situation awareness, prioritisation under competing hazards, communication and coordination, and the role of sea practice, varied drills and debriefing. The findings highlight a potential Procedure–Decision Gap between knowing emergency procedures and making effective decisions in real-life situations. The study suggests strengthening maritime training through scenario-based learning, structured debriefing, assertive communication and decision-focused assessment.