IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v17y2025i21p9426-d1778110.html

Maritime Governance Analysis for Domestic Ferry Safety and Sustainability by Employing Principles, Criteria and Indicators (PCIs) Framework

Author

Listed:
  • Mirza Zeeshan Baig

    (Department of Maritime Safety, World Maritime University, Fiskehamnsgatan 1, 21118 Malmö, Sweden)

  • Khanssa Lagdami

    (Department of Maritime Law and Policy, World Maritime University, Fiskehamnsgatan 1, 21118 Malmö, Sweden)

  • Kanwar Muhammad Javed Iqbal

    (Institute of Sustainable Development, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan)

Abstract

The Safety–Sustainability Governance (SSG) Framework is presented to address critical governance and safety challenges in the domestic ferry sector, particularly in developing countries. The sector faces persistent challenges, indicating the inadequacies in aligning national policies with international yardsticks despite the present global maritime safety standards. To foster an equilibrium between regulatory compliance and rights-based inclusivity, the SSG approach integrates Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles, socio-technical systems (STS), and maritime governance theory. Based on literature review and a wider range survey conducted across 48 countries, the study assesses the SSG approach through four key principles. These principles are proactive planning, vibrant governance policies, effective management and monitoring, and climate-resilient safety practices. The study employed a strong evaluation of governance metrics by using the Principles, Criteria, and Indicators (PCI) methodology which was supported by the Simple Multi-Attribute Rating Technique (SMART). In order to validate the reliability and consistency of findings, statistical tools, such as Pearson Correlation and Cronbach’s Alpha, were used. This not only unveiled high compliance in protective planning and operational monitoring but also highlighted shortcomings in policy enforcement, stakeholders’ engagement, and climate adaptation strategies. The SSG framework acts as an adaptable tool that enables stakeholders to execute targeted improvements and determine governance adequacy. The application of this framework emphasis the significance of stakeholder collaboration, advanced technologies, and regulatory alignment in promoting sustainability and safety in ferry operations. This research presents an innovative contribution by offering a practical model that links global safety standards with local operational realities by paving the technique for improved safety, governance, and sustainability in the domestic ferry industry.

Suggested Citation

  • Mirza Zeeshan Baig & Khanssa Lagdami & Kanwar Muhammad Javed Iqbal, 2025. "Maritime Governance Analysis for Domestic Ferry Safety and Sustainability by Employing Principles, Criteria and Indicators (PCIs) Framework," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-28, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:21:p:9426-:d:1778110
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/21/9426/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/21/9426/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Kaidi Nõmmela & Kati Kõrbe Kaare, 2022. "Maritime Policy Design Framework with ESG Performance Approach: Case of Estonia," Economies, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-15, April.
    2. Nam C. Nguyen & Ockie J. H. Bosch, 2014. "The Art of Interconnected Thinking: Starting with the Young," Challenges, MDPI, vol. 5(2), pages 1-21, August.
    3. Bushra Aslam & Kanwar Muhammad Javed Iqbal & Nadia Akhtar & Angela Bahauovna Mottaeva & Turutina Tatyana Fedorovna & Sergey Barykin & Muhammad Irfan Khan, 2023. "Coherence Analysis of National Maritime Policy of Pakistan across Shipping Sector Governance Framework in the Context of Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-23, May.
    4. Keeney,Ralph L. & Raiffa,Howard, 1993. "Decisions with Multiple Objectives," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9780521438834.
    5. Xiaolong Wang & Boling Zhang & Xu Zhao & Lulu Wang & Ruipeng Tong, 2020. "Exploring the Underlying Causes of Chinese Eastern Star, Korean Sewol, and Thai Phoenix Ferry Accidents by Employing the HFACS-MA," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-19, June.
    6. Yan, Zheming & Zhou, Zicheng & Du, Kerui, 2023. "How does environmental regulatory stringency affect energy consumption? Evidence from Chinese firms," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 118(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. KARRI PASANEN & MIKKO KURTTILA & JOUNI PYKÄlÄINEN & JYRKI KANGAS & PEKKA LESKINEN, 2005. "Mesta — Non-Industrial Private Forest Owners' Decision-Support Environment For The Evaluation Of Alternative Forest Plans Over The Internet," International Journal of Information Technology & Decision Making (IJITDM), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 4(04), pages 601-620.
    2. Lin, Boqiang & Xu, Chongchong, 2024. "The effects of industrial robots on firm energy intensity: From the perspective of technological innovation and electrification," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 203(C).
    3. Gerd Gigerenzer, 1997. "Bounded Rationality: Models of Fast and Frugal Inference," Swiss Journal of Economics and Statistics (SJES), Swiss Society of Economics and Statistics (SSES), vol. 133(2), pages 201-218, June.
    4. Shuang Liu & Kirsten Maclean & Cathy Robinson, 2019. "A cost-effective framework to prioritise stakeholder participation options," EURO Journal on Decision Processes, Springer;EURO - The Association of European Operational Research Societies, vol. 7(3), pages 221-241, November.
    5. Khaled, Oumaima & Minoux, Michel & Mousseau, Vincent & Michel, Stéphane & Ceugniet, Xavier, 2018. "A multi-criteria repair/recovery framework for the tail assignment problem in airlines," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 68(C), pages 137-151.
    6. Zhang, Tianyu & Dong, Peiwu & Zeng, Yongchao & Ju, Yanbing, 2022. "Analyzing the diffusion of competitive smart wearable devices: An agent-based multi-dimensional relative agreement model," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 90-105.
    7. Xing, Qiuhang & Li, Mengzhe & Xu, Gaoshuang, 2024. "The impact of tax enforcement on corporate energy efficiency: Evidence from a tax collection reform in China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 87(C).
    8. Smith, Chris M. & Shaw, Duncan, 2019. "The characteristics of problem structuring methods: A literature review," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 274(2), pages 403-416.
    9. Anirban Basu & William Dale & Arthur Elstein & David Meltzer, 2009. "A linear index for predicting joint health‐states utilities from single health‐states utilities," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 18(4), pages 403-419, April.
    10. Chorus, Caspar & van Cranenburgh, Sander & Daniel, Aemiro Melkamu & Sandorf, Erlend Dancke & Sobhani, Anae & Szép, Teodóra, 2021. "Obfuscation maximization-based decision-making: Theory, methodology and first empirical evidence," Mathematical Social Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 109(C), pages 28-44.
    11. Wu, Desheng (Dash) & Lee, Chi-Guhn, 2010. "Stochastic DEA with ordinal data applied to a multi-attribute pricing problem," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 207(3), pages 1679-1688, December.
    12. Xingli Wu & Huchang Liao & Chonghui Zhang, 2024. "Importance-performance analysis to develop product/service improvement strategies through online reviews with reliability," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 342(3), pages 1905-1924, November.
    13. Perrels, Adriaan & Molarius, Riitta & Porthin, Markus & Rosqvist, Tony, 2008. "Testing a Flood Protection Case by Means of a Group Decision Support System," Discussion Papers 449, VATT Institute for Economic Research.
    14. Fernandez del Pozo, J. A. & Bielza, C. & Gomez, M., 2005. "A list-based compact representation for large decision tables management," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 160(3), pages 638-662, February.
    15. Mario Fedrizzi & Michele Fedrizzi & R. A. Marques Pereira, 2007. "Consensus Modelling In Group Decision Making: Dynamical Approach Based On Fuzzy Preferences," New Mathematics and Natural Computation (NMNC), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 3(02), pages 219-237.
    16. Ahrens, Heinz & Kantelhardt, Jochen, 2007. "Integrating Ecological And Economic Aspects In Land Use Concepts: Some Conclusions From A Regional Land Use Concept For Bayerisches Donauried," 81st Annual Conference, April 2-4, 2007, Reading University, UK 7986, Agricultural Economics Society.
    17. Sriwastava, Ambuj & Reichert, Peter, 2025. "Sensitivity analysis of Bayesian estimates of value function parameters to priors using imprecise probabilities," Journal of choice modelling, Elsevier, vol. 57(C).
    18. Ed Cook & Jason R. W. Merrick, 2023. "Technology Implementation at Capital One," Interfaces, INFORMS, vol. 53(3), pages 178-191, May.
    19. Gemmo, Irina & Browne, Mark J. & Gründl, Helmut, 2017. "Transparency aversion and insurance market equilibria," ICIR Working Paper Series 25/17, Goethe University Frankfurt, International Center for Insurance Regulation (ICIR).
    20. J-B Yang & D-L Xu & X Xie & A K Maddulapalli, 2011. "Multicriteria evidential reasoning decision modelling and analysis—prioritizing voices of customer," Journal of the Operational Research Society, Palgrave Macmillan;The OR Society, vol. 62(9), pages 1638-1654, September.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:21:p:9426-:d:1778110. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager The email address of this maintainer does not seem to be valid anymore. Please ask MDPI Indexing Manager to update the entry or send us the correct address (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.