Championing A Safety-First Culture

For more than 50 years, Pacific International Lines has upheld the principles of a positive safety culture. Jon White discovers how safety is kept top of mind at this enterprise

- Jon White

On August 23, 2019, the Selatang Damai, a fleet vessel, rescued 18 passengers from an abandoned ferry in the Java Sea. This was the latest of a string of rescue efforts by Pacific International Lines (PIL), a home-grown container liner and logistics services company.

“Despite conducting enhanced shipboard and shore training, as well as carrying out safety campaigns, accidents still occur on board merchant vessels — some of them leading to serious injuries,” explains Captain Peng Chu Xing, Assistant General Manager, Quality, Safety & Security Department, Fleet Division, at PIL.

This is why PIL emphasises total visibility of safety issues on board its fleet vessels in order to foster a safer work environment.

SAFETY BY DESIGN

“At Pacific International Lines, we are fully committed to ensuring the safety of our crew and vessels,” Capt Peng affirms. “At every stage of our operation, all PIL’s vessels will be required to undergo maintenance. They are also regularly surveyed and audited to ensure that they meet the required international and national requirements, in addition to our own stringent standards.”

For instance, before calling at the Gulf of Guinea, a particularly dangerous region for maritime piracy, PIL conducts rigorous security assessment for each vessel. Comprehensive security measures — such as shipboard hardenings, a security hotline, armed security escort, and subscribed security anchorages — are also put in place to mitigate security risks.