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