Maritime safety : a study on Penang ferries

Abstract

This research is conducted onboard the ferries ·at Sultan Abdul Halim Jetty at Pulau Pinang and Ferry Services Unit office of Penang Port Sdn. Bhd. This research mainly focuses on perception of passengers on safety onboard the Penang ferries and the ferries' safety status. Safety is the most important matter in marine transportation. To get the research data, 150 questionnaires were given to the passengers of the ferries and researcher interviewed one, Technical Executive of the Ferry Services Unit staff. Questionnaires results analysed using Google Document form. Passengers within age group of 20-30 years old were the majority of the respondents of the questionnaires. Most of the passengers showed their dissatisfaction on the location of the children's life jackets and they stated that the ferry crew did not brief them on safety measures to be taken when onboard the ferries. The interview results with Ferry Services Unit staff showed that they implemented standard safe practices and all safety features for passenger ships as required by Merchant Shipping Ordinance, 1952 and by the Marine Department of Peninsula Malaysia. It can be concluded that the ferries that are operating in Penang are safe but at the same time they can still be improved in certain aspects for the safety and the convenience of the passengers.