FACTORS INFLUENCING DOMESTIC FERRY CASUALTIES IN LANGKAWI, MALAYSIA

TING SIEW CHEONG; CHIN VOON  THONG; SI YING  OOI; NOR ASIKHIN  ISHAK; KIM MUAR CHUA; MOHD HAFIZI  SAID; KENG BIN  LOKE; LAI CHUAH

doi:10.46754/jml.2026.08.001

Authors

TING SIEW CHEONG School of Technology Management and Logistics, Universiti Utara Malaysia, 06010 Sintok, Kedah, Malaysia
CHIN VOON THONG School of Technology Management and Logistics, Universiti Utara Malaysia, 06010 Sintok, Kedah, Malaysia
SI YING OOI School of Technology Management and Logistics, Universiti Utara Malaysia, 06010 Sintok, Kedah, Malaysia
NOR ASIKHIN ISHAK School of Education, Universiti Utara Malaysia, 06010 Sintok, Kedah, Malaysia
KIM MUAR CHUA Faculty of Maritime Management, Akademi Laut Malaysia, Batu 30, Kampung Tanjung Dahan, 78200 Kuala Sungai Baru, Melaka, Malaysia
MOHD HAFIZI SAID Faculty of Maritime Studies, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia
KENG BIN LOKE Faculty of Maritime Studies, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia
LAI CHUAH School of Technology Management and Logistics, Universiti Utara Malaysia, 06010 Sintok, Kedah, Malaysia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.46754/jml.2026.08.001

Keywords:

Casualties, domestic ferry, risk management, safety measures, Langkawi

Abstract

Domestic ferry services played a vital role in providing essential transportation for local communities and supporting tourism activities in Langkawi, Malaysia. Ferry operations were exposed to various safety risks that might result in casualties and operational disruptions. This study examined the influence of human factors, environmental conditions, mechanical failures, organisational factors and technical knowledge on domestic ferry casualties in Langkawi. A quantitative research approach was adopted, and data were collected from 186 ferry operators using a structured questionnaire through purposive sampling. The data were analysed using descriptive analysis, Pearson correlation analysis and multiple linear regression analysis using SPSS version 29. The correlation results indicated that all independent variables had positive and statistically significant relationships with domestic ferry casualties, with environmental conditions recording the strongest correlation (r = 0.601, p < 0.001). Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that environmental conditions were the only factor with a statistically significant effect in influencing domestic ferry casualties. Human factors, mechanical failures, organisational factors and technical knowledge did not demonstrate significant predictive effects in the regression model. The findings highlighted the dominant influence of environmental conditions such as tidal variations, sea state and weather patterns on ferry casualties in Langkawi. The study provided valuable insights for maritime authorities, ferry operators, and policymakers to strengthen weather-related risk management, improve operational decision-makingdecision-making, and enhance preventive safety measures for domestic ferry operations. Future research was recommended to expand the geographical scope, utilise mixed research methods, and further incorporate qualitative insights to improve understanding of domestic ferry casualty risks in Malaysia.

References

Anthony, F. M. (2008). Chapter 6: Marine engines and auxiliary machinery. In Molland, A. F. (Ed.), The maritime engineering reference book (pp. 346–482). Butterworth-Heinemann. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-7506-8987-8.00006-8 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-7506-8987-8.00006-8

Associated Marine Training. (2024). Understanding marine AIS and its impact on maritime safety. Associated Marine Training. https://associatedmarinetraining.com/marine-ais/

Azman, N. A. (2026, January 20). Dua feri Langkawi terbakar 80 peratus. Kosmo. https://www.kosmo.com.my/2026/01/20/dua-feri-langkawi-terbakar-80-peratus/ DOI: https://doi.org/10.1055/a-2727-2835

Baig, M., Lagdami, K., & Mejia, M. Q. (2024). Safeguarding maritime transport: Disclosing the paradox of safety in domestic ferry operations. Australian Journal of Maritime and Ocean Affairs, 17(3), 496–525. https://doi.org/10.1080/18366503.2024.2354558 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/18366503.2024.2354558

Bernama. (2026, April 20). Ferry rationing to Langkawi sparks protest, call for government intervention. New Straits Times. https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2026/04/1421708/ferry-rationing-langkawi-sparks-protest-calls-govt-intervention

Bird, F. E. (1974). Management guide to loss control. Institute Press.

Che Ishak, I., Azlan, M. F., Ismail, S. B., & Mohd Zainee, N. (2019). A study of human error factors on maritime accident rates in maritime industry. Asian Academy of Management Journal, 24, 17–32. https://doi.org/10.21315/aamj2019.24.s2.2 DOI: https://doi.org/10.21315/aamj2019.24.s2.2

CruiseMapper. (2022, October 24). Langkawi ferry runs aground with 500+ passengers and crew onboard. https://www.cruisemapper.com/news/11030-langkawi-ferry-runs-aground

Gao, X., Dai, W., Yu, L., & Yu, Q. (2024). Study on factors contributing to severity of ship collision accidents in the Yangtze River estuary. Transportation Safety and Environment, 6(4), Article tdae014. https://doi.org/10.1093/tse/tdae014 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/tse/tdae014

George, D., & Mallery, P. (2016). IBM SPSS statistics 23 step by step (14th ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315545899 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315545899

Golden, A. S., & Weisbrod, R. E. (2016). Trends, causal analysis, and recommendations from 14 years of ferry accidents. Journal of Public Transportation, 19(1), 17–27. https://doi.org/10.5038/2375-0901.19.1.2 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5038/2375-0901.19.1.2

Hair, J. F., Black, W. C., Babin, B. J., & Anderson, R. E. (2010). Multivariate data analysis (7th ed.). Pearson.

Heinrich, H. W. (1931). Industrial accident prevention: A scientific approach. Mcgraw-Hill.

Hilmy, I. (2025, February 21). Langkawi still a top tourist draw. The Star. https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2025/02/21/langkawi-still-a-top-tourist-draw

Krejcie, R. V., & Morgan, D. W. (1970). Determining sample size for research activities. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 30(3), 607–610. https://doi.org/10.1177/001316447003000308 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/001316447003000308

Langkawi Development Authority. (2021). Langkawi is expected to generate more income through Langkawi great sale 2021 campaign. https://www.lada.gov.my/en/langkawi-is-expected-to-generate-more-income-through-langkawi-great-sale-2021-campaign/

Langkawi Development Authority. (2025). Langkawi Development Authority. https://www.lada.gov.my/en/

Makwana, D., Engineer, P., Dabhi, A., & Chudasama, H. (2023). Sampling methods in research: A review. International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development (IJTSRD), 7(3), 762–768. https://www.ijtsrd.com/papers/ijtsrd57470.pdf

Malaysia Marine Department. (2025). Ship accident cases for each region. https://www.marine.gov.my/informasi/statistik/

McIntyre, I. (2022, May 22). Langkawi’s reputation as tourist spot at risk if ferry services not improved. The Vibes. https://www.thevibes.com/articles/news/61391/langkawis-reputation-as-tourist-spot-at-risk-if-ferry-services-not-improved

Miles, R. F., & Dyer, J. S. (1973). Systems concepts: Lectures on temporary approaches to systems. IEEE Transactions on Systems, Man, and Cybernetics, 4(6), 590–591. https://doi.org/10.1109/TSMC.1974.4309372 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1109/TSMC.1974.4309372

Onsongo, K. S. (2017). Analysis of the domestic passenger ferry safety in Kenya [Master's thesis]. World Maritime University. https://commons.wmu.se/all_dissertations/552/

Osman, H. (2026, January 4). Langkawi expects 450,000 tourists via “RoRo” ferry services. New Straits Times. https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2026/01/1350214/langkawi-expects-450000-tourists-roro-ferry-services

Port Klang Authority. (2026). Vessel Traffic Management System (VTMS). https://www.pka.gov.my/index.php/en/information/fasilities/vtms