Strengthening Maritime Safety Culture through Community Counseling in Tambrauw Regency

Abstract

Maritime transportation is essential for mobility, fisheries, and goods distribution in remote coastal regions; however, reliance on small vessels is often accompanied by limited safety knowledge and inconsistent application of basic precautions. This community service program aimed to strengthen maritime safety knowledge and awareness among maritime actors in Tambrauw Regency, Southwest Papua, Indonesia. A one-group pretest-posttest intervention was conducted on 9-10 December 2025 with 22 participants, including traditional fishermen, motorboat operators, coastal residents, community leaders, and officers of the Tambrauw Regency Transportation Agency. The program combined structured counseling, interactive discussion, practical demonstrations of life-jacket use, recognition of navigation signs, basic emergency-response procedures, and information on formal maritime training opportunities. Knowledge was assessed using a 20-item multiple-choice test administered before and after the activity. The mean score increased from 45.0 (SD 7.15) to 80.0 (SD 5.28), representing a 35-point gain. Knowledge-category distributions shifted from 77% low and 23% moderate at baseline to 73% high and 27% moderate after the program. A paired-samples t-test showed a statistically significant pretest-posttest difference, t(21) = -26.22, p < .001. These findings indicate a substantial immediate improvement in measured maritime safety knowledge following the intervention. However, the single-group design, absence of a comparison group, unreported validity and reliability coefficients, and lack of behavioral follow-up limit inferences about causality and long-term effects. Periodic refresher training, practical drills, consistent use of safety equipment, and continued coordination with local authorities are recommended to support sustained maritime safety practices and preparedness for routine voyages and emergency situations