Ferry crew broke protocol for reporting missing passenger

SINGAPORE — The crew of a ferry from Johor to Singapore went against protocol and did not immediately inform the operator that a passenger had gone missing, partly due to time spent trying to establish the owner of a bag and shoes found on the ferry’s outer deck.

This was according to a representative of the ferry operator, Sindo Ferry, which is conducting an internal probe into the incident.

In all, it took about three hours — from the time the unattended belongings were first discovered by the crew — before the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) was notified and a search-and-rescue operation was activated.

The ferry, Sindo Empress, had departed from Tanjung Pengelih in Johor for Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal in Singapore at about 7.30am last Saturday. About 20 minutes later, the crew spotted the bag and shoes on the outer deck. The vessel was understood to have arrived in Tanah Merah at about 8.20am. At the terminal, crew members asked to review closed circuit television footage and found that only 39 of 40 passengers had alighted. The MPA said it was informed about the missing passenger at about 11am.

The passenger, a woman believed to be about 40 years old, was rescued by a fishing vessel and taken to Batam.

On the time lapse between the discovery that a passenger had possibly gone missing and the reporting of the incident to the authorities, Sindo Ferry’s representative said crew members were trying to establish ownership of the bag and shoes. He added: “They cannot just open anybody’s belongings that were left behind without getting authority from the company.”

The representative initially said the crew reported its discovery of the belongings to the operator at about 9am — after the ferry had arrived in Tanah Merah. However, he subsequently insisted that he did not know what time the crew informed the operator.

The police and the MPA said they are investigating the incident and the representative added that any disciplinary action against the crew would be taken after police investigations are completed.

Responding to TODAY’s queries on the incident, an MPA spokesperson cited the ongoing investigations and did not say whether any action could be taken against the operator. Still, the spokesperson reiterated that, under the International Safety Management Code, guidelines are in place for the crew to inform the operator when there is an incident on board.

The safety management of ferry operators has come under the spotlight in recent weeks. In South Korea, fingers have been pointed at the crew for its handling of the passengers’ evacuation as the Sewol ferry sank.

Of the 476 passengers and crew on board, 339 were children and teachers on a high-school outing. Only 174 people have been rescued and the remainder are presumed to have drowned.

Ferry safety management under spotlight

In Singapore waters, incidents involving ferries are rare. The MPA said there had been three such incidents in the past decade. Two of the incidents required search-and-rescue operations and the third involved a passenger ferry beached on Pulau Tekong due to an engine problem.

The MPA spokesperson said the authority conducts regular briefings on safety for ferry operators. Since the beginning of the year, it has conducted six briefing sessions, with the latest conducted on Wednesday. The safety briefings cover the importance of navigational safety, compliance with collision regulations and port regulations, as well as observance of good seamanship practices for ferry masters and officers.

The MPA also conducts regular spot checks on ferries as part of its inspection regime.

Vessels that do not comply with or fail to meet standards are subject to detention. Recalcitrant operators can also have their permits revoked.

Some Singaporeans who regularly take the ferry to neighbouring islands said operators here do not take safety management seriously enough. For example, they pointed out that passengers are not taught how to put on a life jacket and, at times, safety videos are screened without sound.

Ms Valerie Toh, a 22-year-old student, said: “We never know what will happen, so we need to be prepared ... such as knowing where the life jackets and exits are and how to get out.”

Operators contacted by TODAY said there are safety announcements on board to remind passengers to remain seated throughout the journey and follow instructions from the crew in the event of an emergency.

The MPA said the public could contact its Marine Safety Control Centre at 6325 2488/2489 if they spot lapses.