Risk analysis on the safety of navigation in Terengganu river estuary

Abstract

Terengganu River estuaries are located on the east coast of peninsular Malaysia facing the South China Sea. Terengganu River is important for inland water transportation in Kuala Terengganu with has a two river systems, Nerus River and Terengganu River channel their water into this estuary. The major usages of this estuary are mainly for fishing, tourism and cargo transportation. Due to increase the important of the river, the traffic is increase and the risk for accident will increase. The safety of navigation in Terengganu River should be priority because to avoid any losses of the life, vessel, cargo and environment pollution. There is only certain study was conducting the research that related of the safety navigation in Terengganu River estuary but until now, there is no research to find out the probability of risk accident and level of safety navigation in Terengganu River estuary. Although, in Terengganu River has a Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) for the Search and Rescue (SAR) operation but there still has a loss when occur in accident. The determination risk of accident is important for the awareness. From last three years data that collected from MMEA and Marine Department the accident in Terengganu River estuary was low in number but there still has occur an accident with the same case of accident. In this data that the main accident to vessel in Terengganu River estuary was grounding, collusion, sinking and heavy weather. The accident might be happening because of the nature of the Terengganu River estuaries with has a small, shallow and has the monsoon season. Total area of the Terengganu River estuaries is approximately 8km2 ; the depth of water is average only 4m and has the monsoon season on the November until January. Based on the accident cases and traffic number in the Terengganu River estuary, probability risk can calculate and based on this probability the safety of the navigation in Terengganu River estuary is determine.