Presentation on Domestic Ferry ry Safety in Bangladesh Mohammad Obaidullah Ibne Bashir CEng, FIMarEST Ship Registrar, Ship Surveyor & Examiner Department of Shipping, Bangladesh.
Overview • Bangladesh is a riverine country with high density of population. • Numerous rivers move crisscrossing the country and play an important role in the transportation of passengers and good. • Major Types of Inland River Communication Include: • Ferry Service • Cargo Carrier • Petroleum Carriers • Public sector do not engage much in providing these transportation (other than the remote and isolated places where the private sector is not much interested to ply) • Private Sector plays an important role in the waterway transportation sector.
Overview • The riverine transportation system is vital for the economy of Bangladesh. • While operating different types of watercraft along the riverine routes sometimes accidents do occur which effects the human lives, the environment and properties in various forms and degree of extent . • The effects of accidents vary from minor injuries to fatalities and from insignificant damage to very severe damage to the environment, property and human lives. • The main purpose of every accident investigation is to provide decision makers with valid and reliable information to make better decisions to stop recurrence of the accidents.
Overview • To reduce overall carbon footprint and also to reduce load on roads, Bangladesh government attaches due priority on the waterway transportation for the carriage of goods and passengers. • To make the waterway transportation safe and popular Department of Shipping is committed to ensure safety of life and the vessels.
Aim The aim of this presentation is to analyze: 1. The causes of Domestic ferry accidents in the waterways of Bangladesh 2. The remedial measures that may make the waterways safe and secure for the passengers and the vessels.
Waterways of Bangladesh
Waterways of Bangladesh • Inland waterways plays a significant role in the lifestyle of Bangladeshis and will remain so for a long time • Bangladesh’s waterways • stand at 24,000 km, • with a navigable route of • 5,968 km during the monsoon • 3,865 km in dry season.
Waterways of Bangladesh • Depending on the economic value and the navigational quality of the waterways in 1967, 12000 KM of waterways were divided into three different classes • The economic value was decided on the connection between two points where from traffic was generated and navigational quality was defined by the indicated draft of a vessel with which it could safely sail through • However, in 1989 the inland waterways was divided into four classes according to the Least Available Draft (LAD ) • LAD determines the minimum depth of water a vessel can safely negotiate
Waterways of Bangladesh • It is also revealed that 2150 – 2500 KM of the total 5968 KM of waterways are seasonal routes • According to existing river notices issued fortnightly by BIWTA’s conservancy and pilotage department, 3888KM of waterways are perennially navigable.
Waterways of Bangladesh • The existing waterways are shown below according to their classes: Class Indicated Length % Classification Criteria Draft (m) (km) I 3.6 683 11 These are major Transport Corridors where LAD of 3.6m is required to be maintained round the year II 2.1 1000 17 These link major inland ports or places of economic importance to Class I routes III 1.5 1885 32 Being seasonal in nature, it is not feasible to maintain higher LAD throughout the year IV 1.5 2400 40 These are seasonal routes where maintenance of LAD of 1.5 or more in dry season is not feasible Total 5968 100
Different Types of Vessels in Bangladesh • According to the World Bank report about 745,000 country boats ply the rivers in Bangladesh of which: • 464,000 are used for passengers • 261,000 for cargo Passenger Others • Although, the figure appears to be very high the real Vessel 5% 16% number for commercial purpose may be well below the figure shown here • As per the official count in the inland ship registry, there are over 12,500 vessels of which Cargo • about 2000 passenger Vessel • 3000 cargo vessels 24% Fishing 54% • 95 tankers • 6751 fishing vessels Tankers 1% • and the remaining are sand carrier, dredger, bulkhead boat etc. • Gross tonnage of about 0.45 million
Different Types of Vessels in Bangladesh • In respect to passenger services there are 5 large passenger terminals with modern facilities and 6 with facilities for embarkation and disembarkation of passengers • There are also 133 launch stations with moderate facilities for embarkation and disembarkation • The kind water transports plying through the inland water ways of Bangladesh include: • Ferries • Steamers • Launches • Ships • Boats • Tug- boat • Oil – Tanker • Speed boat • Water-bus • Water ambulances etc.
Passengers’ Movement • In places inaccessible by land transport like road and railways, water transport acts as a gateway to communication with the rest of the country. • The facilities provided in the launch terminals are floating steel pontoons of different sizes. • These pontoons are connected to the shore by a wooden jetty and gangway. • The pontoons are used for berthing of vessels, embarkation and disembarkation of passengers and loading and unloading of cargoes.
Passengers’ Movement • Statistics show that around more than 3 lacs passengers move through the water ways on Bhola regular basis using facilities available at different Mawa 2% 5% Dhaka terminals and ghats. 17% • Regular movement of passengers from different ports are shown below: Aricha • Dhaka port: 50,000 3% • Borishal port: 30,000 • Narayangonj port: 10,000 Borishal • Bhola port: 5,000 10% • Aricha port: 10,000 • Mawa port: 15,000 Narayangonj Others 3% • Other ports: 1, 80,000 60% • During the period of different religious festivals and long weekends the movement of passengers’ increases almost 5 times than normal.
Problems Encountered by Passengers • During the movement of passengers, there are some common problems usually faced in terminals are: • Harassment while getting up and down (in the ferries, ships). • Small stair system. • Lack of toilet, wash room facilities . • Lack of sufficient security guards. • Over all, lack of modern equipment in the ports. • Lack of facilities for Handicapped personnel. • In addition to the problems faced in the terminals, passengers also sometimes faces problems onboard. These are mainly related to: • Inadequate recreation facilities. • Shortage of accommodation/ spaces onboard if the ship is overloaded. • Lack of personnel safety equipment in case of overloading.
Solution to the Problems Problems faced by the passengers have direct relation with the safety of the passengers and the safety of the vessels. To overcome the problems measures are taken by BIWTA and the Department of shipping • In all the terminals and Ghats adequate spaces have been created such as waiting rooms with toilets and washroom facilities • In the larger terminals large size LED screens have been placed to show the timetable of different passenger launches for different routes • These screens are also used to show video clips on safety of passengers and how to use the lifesaving appliances in case of need • To maintain orderly situation at the terminals and also to maintain safety different measures are taken. Some of those are: • Ensure skillful management in handling the situation. • Adequate number of security personnel are employed to maintain law and order situation at the terminal • Ensure passengers safety and security through compliance of safety measures and monitoring by Department of Shipping officials • Ensure sufficient lightening at night • Maintaining the timetable for the departure of the passenger launches
Accidents and Casualties There are one storied, two storied and three storied motor launches which ply on different destinations daily. • Motor launches travelling to near destinations around capital city are smaller in size and they make more than one round trip throughout the day • Large motor launches going to distant locations have specific time schedules With the increase in population and the growing economy of the country, the waterways are getting congested despite the fact that the inland waterways are not expanding, Therefore, problems relating to maritime safety are emerging with new dimensions every day.
Accidents and Casualties • In past few years number of launch accidents killed several hundred people in Bangladesh • In response to this, government took some remedial measures to reduce the number of accidents • Statistics of accidents from 1991 till 2018:
Accidents and Casualties Number of Number of Accidents by Category Accidents (Total) 118 120 200 182 100 180 160 80 133 67 140 58 120 60 95 44 89 100 38 38 32 40 29 27 26 80 25 23 22 22 55 54 14 60 20 10 8 7 40 0 20 1991-1995 1996-2000 2001-2005 2006-2010 2011-2015 2016-2018 0 Launch Cargo Others 1991- 1996- 2001- 2006- 2011- 2016- 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2018 Statistics of accidents from 1991 till 2018
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