Maritime authorities from Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand convened in Bangkok (28-29 October) to share experiences and examine ways to enhance domestic ferry safety across Southeast Asia.
Domestic passenger ferries play a crucial role in the region, connecting communities and facilitating trade between islands and along rivers.
However, they often involve vessels which operate outside established international maritime conventions such as SOLAS, including vessels under 500 gross tons, traditional craft and small passenger boats.
The regional roundtable, organized under the EU-funded SCOPE Ship Safety Project implemented by IMO, highlighted the IMO Model Regulations for Domestic Ferry Safety to help countries strengthen national ferry regulations while keeping vital transport services running.
Tackling common challenges
The event brought together representatives from maritime transport ministries, port authorities, naval architects and international technical organizations.
Participants shared experiences facing common operational hazards such as vessel overcrowding, unverified passenger manifests, extreme weather exposure, and informal safety management practices.
Discussions covered key themes:
- Adapting IMO model regulations for non-Convention craft
- Digitalization and manifest accuracy
- Operational safety management and weather envelopes
- Mainstreaming gender equality and social inclusion
Mr. Masud Karim, Deputy Director at the Maritime Safety Division of IMO, emphasized:
"Domestic ferry transport connects communities, jobs, healthcare, and markets across Southeast Asia. The consensus forged here in Bangkok gives us a durable blueprint to turn IMO Model Regulations into national legislation and build a self-sustaining culture of maritime safety for years to come."
Mr. Wiwat Chidcherdwong, Deputy Director-General of the Marine Department of Thailand, underscored the host nation's commitment:
"For Thailand, ensuring public safety requires an inclusive, human-centric approach. Thailand is proud to host this regional gathering and lead by incorporating IMO Model Regulations and our Pattaya Model safety baseline into national practice."
The European Union underlined its commitment to supporting safe, sustainable, and inclusive connectivity in the region through the EU Global Gateway strategy:
"Through the SCOPE Ship Safety Project, we are proud to support the transition from national diagnostic dialogues to a unified ASEAN Implementation Roadmap that protects all passengers, including women, children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities."
Technical support
Strategic partners, including the World Maritime University (WMU), IMO International Maritime Law Institute (IMLI) and Interferry, shared ongoing initiatives aimed at capacity building.
Participants discussed how to present viable, well-structured projects to international financial institutions and donor bodies for potential future support.
Looking ahead to 2027, the SCOPE project will focus on operational capacity building, delivering specialized technical training for maritime administrations, vessel surveyors, and crew members across target nations.
- More about the SCOPE Ship Safety Project
- Domestic Ferry Safety at IMO
- IMO Model Regulations for Domestic Ferry Safety
