The Malaysian Scuba Diving Association (MSDA) has suggested travelers not to proceed with any marine-related travels during weather disturbances or severe haze that may obscure vision. The association highlighted that the safety of travelers should never be compromised despite having made payment beforehand.
According to the President of the MSDA, Aminor, it is important for travelers to comply with the wishes of tour operators and boat captains should they decide to halt or cancel trips owing to dangerous conditions. Tour operators on the other hand must give proper justification for canceling their activities and suggest alternatives such as rescheduling of the trip based on the terms of booking.
“The tour operators need to provide proper justification for canceling their services and discuss rescheduling and other possible alternatives in accordance with the booking terms,” Aminor stated in a press conference.
Ensuring Safety in Marine Tourism in Malaysia before Monsoon
In his statement, Aminor reasoned that it is essential for marine tourism service providers, especially those operating on islands off the eastern coast of Malaysia, to remain vigilant about safety in the wake of the oncoming monsoon.
It was suggested that operators keep track of air pollution levels in the area and stay aware of sea visibility. Haze has the potential to harm human health while making it difficult for sailors to see boats and people on water.
Should circumstances be dangerous, operators have no choice but to cancel a trip. Decision making will require captain assessing the weather, sea, visibility, and crew’s and vessel’s preparedness for sailing.
Boat Inspection and Emergency Preparedness
All operators must inspect their boats prior to departure. Boats should be fully fueled, and it is vital to inspect communication devices. Aminor prevented operators from expecting mobile phones as a sole method of communication.
Operators should take some safety measures, including checking that the safety equipment is working properly, checking the boat’s passenger capacity, and confirming that the crew members know how to deal with emergencies.
Another thing tourists should realize is that they are also responsible for their own safety. They must check whether they are healthy enough for the trip and that they have enough of their own medicine. In case of a health problem, tourists should inform the provider of the trip and give it the necessary information about medications, allergies, and phone numbers of people to contact in case of emergency.
Rescue teams should always be prepared.
MSDA asked rescue teams to make their preparedness stronger by looking at their staff, equipment, and devices of communication. In case of an emergency, the provider should call the coastguard immediately and tell them the exact location of the ship and the number of people who need help.
However, Aminor said that the availability of rescue teams is never a reason for making a hazardous journey. Bad weather can make it impossible to carry out rescue operations.
The key message of the association is marine tourism should never be conducted at the expense of human safety.
