LABUAN – The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) is enhancing safety measures for passenger ferries serving this duty-free island and mainland Sabah.
Among the measures taken are stricter checks on safety equipment and life jackets, and screening video on passengers’ safety measures.
MMEA Labuan Maritime Zone director Capt Nudin Jusoh said the safety measures for passenger ferries must be made known to commuters.
“Although the journey from Labuan to the Jesselton jetty, Kota Kinabalu takes about two hours by the express ferries here, we will never know what can happen in between the journey.
“The passengers must know what to do in case of an emergency during the journey at sea and, hence, they must completely understand the emergency evacuation techniques and passenger safety tips,” he said after presenting a video on safety tips for passengers to the executive director of LDA (Holdings) Sdn Bhd at the Labuan International Ferry Terminal here today.
Nudin disclosed that a total of 12 maritime-related offences were recorded so far this year, adding that inspections onboard all types of vessels would continue.
He also urged ferry and passenger boat operators to constantly enhance the competency of crews.
Labuan International Ferry Terminal’s management company LDA (Holdings) Sdn Bhd executive director Mohammad Ridzuan Ibrahim said the firm always ensures that safety measures related to express ferries and passenger boats are complied with by their operators.
“We usually conduct checks on the express ferries and passenger boats as the safety aspect of passengers is of paramount importance to us,” he said.
Labuan Marine Department senior chief assistant director Nur Muhammad Subri said engagement sessions on safety measures with various relevant government agencies were constantly being conducted.
“We also conduct regular monitoring and checks on passenger vessels on the safety measures, with the cooperation of the MMEA,” he said. – Bernama, October 27, 2022
