A series of high-level national roundtables on domestic ferry safety has marked a major milestone in efforts to strengthen maritime safety across Southeast Asia.
The events were held in Bangkok, Thailand (6-7 May), Jakarta, Indonesia (25-26 June) and Langkawi, Malaysia (29-30 June) under the EU-ASEAN Sustainable Connectivity Package (SCOPE) Ship Safety Project, with the objective of developing country-specific strategies to modernize ferry operations.
Government authorities, industry representatives and civil society stakeholders came together to identify practical reforms that will enhance passenger safety and operational resilience.
The strategic dialogues, held across the three Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) nations, secured strong national commitments to modernize domestic ferry operations, bridging the gap between local practices and international standards through an actionable roadmap focused on digital innovation, rigorous enforcement and inclusive infrastructure.
Country-specific strategies for safer ferry operations
The roundtables identified main nation-specific strategies:
Thailand: Strategy sessions mapped out a vision to elevate Thailand into a "World-Class Ferry Hub". The roadmap couples existing ship survey regulations with empowered enforcement capacities and mandatory digital passenger registration.
Indonesia: Maritime leaders prioritized a holistic safety approach, focusing on the modernization of traditional wooden craft (Pinisi) and expanding centralized digital manifest systems like FERIZY to eliminate overloading.
Malaysia: Discussions centered on a new "Blueprint for Malaysia's Domestic Ferries". Key priorities include standardizing regulations for non-classed vessels and building a unified digital database for vessel registration and accident reporting.
Advancing inclusive safety
The roundtables also incorporated Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) considerations into future safety approaches. Key outcomes included:
Improving accessibility through upgraded infrastructure such as handrails, ramps and passenger signage;
Strengthening crew capacity through gender-sensitive practices and specialized emergency response training; and
Promoting Model regulations on domestic ferry safety (IMO Resolution MSC.518(105) as a model framework to support the harmonization of domestic maritime safety standards across ASEAN. The model regulations provide framework provisions on domestic ferry safety for incorporation into national law. They cover a range of issues, including certification; manning; safety management; navigation and communications equipment and life-saving appliances. They can be adapted by countries, as necessary, to suit their respective national conditions and requirements.
The SCOPE Project is now transitioning from national strategies to a unified regional vision. The upcoming phase will launch an ASEAN Knowledge Exchange to share national outcomes, broadcast best practices and synthesize collaborative efforts into context-specific regional roadmaps.
