DETERMINANTS OF PASSENGERS’ SAFETY AWARENESS ON DOMESTIC FERRIES: EVIDENCE FROM PANGKOR ISLAND, MALAYSIA

YUN HUI WONG; LAI  CHUAH; MIN TING  PHANG; AI RU TEY; NOR ASIKHIN  ISHAK; KIM MUAR CHUA; MOHD HAFIZI  SAID; KENG BIN  LOKE; NUR HAFIZA  MR MUHAMARUESA

doi:10.46754/jml.2026.08.002

Authors

YUN HUI WONG School of Technology Management and Logistics, Universiti Utara Malaysia, 06010 Sintok, Kedah, Malaysia
LAI CHUAH School of Technology Management and Logistics, Universiti Utara Malaysia, 06010 Sintok, Kedah, Malaysia
MIN TING PHANG School of Technology Management and Logistics, Universiti Utara Malaysia, 06010 Sintok, Kedah, Malaysia
AI RU TEY 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
NUR HAFIZA MR MUHAMARUESA Faculty of Ocean Engineering Technology, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.46754/jml.2026.08.002

Keywords:

Domestic ferries, passengers, safety awareness

Abstract

Recent statistics indicate a rising trend of ferry-related accidents in Malaysian waters, raising concerns about passenger safety in domestic ferry operations. Despite increasing passenger volumes, particularly at high-traffic destinations such as Pangkor Island, empirical research on passengers’ safety awareness remains limited, as prior studies have largely focused on crew safety and operational management. This gap constrains understanding of passengers’ preparedness and compliance with onboard emergency procedures. This study examined the factors influencing passengers’ safety awareness on domestic ferries in Pangkor Island, with particular emphasis on situational awareness, wayfinding, safety information, and safety delivery, grounded in the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) and supported by situational awareness theory, SERVQUAL, and cognitive mapping theory. Data were collected from 420 respondents using a convenience sampling technique. Descriptive analysis using SPSS version 29 was conducted to explore the demographic characteristics of respondents. Pearson correlation analysis was applied to determine the relationships between the independent variables and passengers' safety awareness. In contrast, multiple linear regression analysis was employed to examine the relative influence of each factor. The findings revealed that all four independent variables had a significant positive impact on passengers' safety awareness. Among the variables examined, wayfinding emerged as the most influential predictor (β = 0.375) followed by safety information, situational awareness and safety delivery. This study provides valuable insight for ferry operators seeking to improve safety information through improved facilities, signs, and safety briefings, thereby enhancing safety management practices and operational effectiveness, and informing policy improvements for ferry operators and maritime authorities. Future research could explore a broader geographical area, adopt longitudinal research and utilise mixed methods to deepen understanding of this issue and further strengthen passenger-centred safety strategies in domestic ferry operations.

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