Ferry Safety Project

Ferry Safety in the Developing World

Interferry is undertaking a joint initiative with the International Maritime Organization to improve the shocking safety record of domestic ferry operations in developing nations. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed in January 2006 on a ten-year action plan aiming at a 90% cut in fatalities – conservatively estimated at 1,000 a year. In the first phase, a pilot project was arranged in Bangladesh.  Some modest success was achieved in the areas of crew training, hazardous weather reporting and the development of an electronic database of vessels.

The second phase of the project has involved the concept of a Ferry Safety Forum where regulators and operators from different countries come together for a few days to discuss the challenges and successes that they have with regard to ferry safety.  The first Forum was held in Indonesia in December 2011 (a summary follows) and others are being considered for the Pacific Islands and central Africa.

Interferry has launched a joint initiative with the International Maritime Organization to improve the shocking safety record of domestic ferry operations in developing nations. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed in January 2006 on a ten-year action plan aiming at a 90% cut in fatalities—conservatively estimated at 1,000 a year. In the first phase, a pilot project is being arranged in Bangladesh.