ASIAN INSTITUTE OF MARITIME STUDIES

Roxas Boulevard cor., Arnaiz Avenue, Pasay City 1302, Philippines

PROPOSED – QUESTIONNAIRE

A Survey on the Perception of Filipino Seafarers on Hiring Armed Guard to

Prevent the Acts of Piracy on Merchant Marine Vessels

Sir/Ma’am,

Hello and welcome! We, the researchers, would appreciate it if you could help us
in gathering the data required for the aforementioned study. In line with this, we
would like to request that you complete the attached questionnaire regarding the
significant difference of the seafarers’ perception towards the advantages and
disadvantages of hiring armed guards to prevent the acts of piracy on merchant
marine vessel. We believe that your participation in our research is essential to
obtain the important information needed for our research.
All information you provide will be kept strictly confidential and used only for
research purposes. Your response will be combined with responses from other
survey participants and analyzed as part of a group. The researcher also acts in
accordance with the Republic Act of 10173 or Data Privacy act of 2012 which means
"to protect the fundamental human right of privacy, of communication while ensuring
free flow of information to promote innovation and growth". We will not use any of the
personal information you provide for purposes other than research. Your
participation is entirely voluntary. You have the right to request that a portion, or all,
of the record of your participation in the survey be deleted or not be counted. Rest
assured, your personal information will be private and confidential.
The data gathered will be sent to a statistician and maritime expert for evaluation.
Thank you very much and God bless!
 ASIAN INSTITUTE OF MARITIME STUDIES
Roxas Boulevard cor., Arnaiz Avenue, Pasay City 1302, Philippines

Include a brief introduction on the purpose of your research Example: This

questionnaire is for the data gathering of our thesis entitled_______________. Then

inform them of the confidentiality of their answers, provide brief instructions for every

part. Label everything by part, so it will be easier for you to trace the answers by

SOP.

Respondent’s Profile

Respondent's Profile
1. Name (Optional)  
2. Age  
3. Gender  
4. Category of
Shipping Company  
5. Last Boarded
Vessel  
6. Job Position
7. Year/s of Seagoing
Experience
 ASIAN INSTITUTE OF MARITIME STUDIES
Roxas Boulevard cor., Arnaiz Avenue, Pasay City 1302, Philippines

DIRECTION: Please use the following scales to rate each question based on your
own experience or opinion:

1 – STRONGLY AGREE; 2 – AGREE; 3 – MODERATELY AGREE;

4 – DISAGREE; 5 – STRONGLY DISAGREE

Likert Scale
Scale Description
5 Strongly Agree
4 Agree
3 Moderately Agree
2 Disagree
1 Strongly Disagree

I. Questionnaire Proper

Part 1. This part aims to determine the perception of the respondents on the
extent of the role of armed guards in prevention of piracy.

Instruction: Check the given boxes according to the rate of your level of
agreement base on the scale. All answer will be accepted.

Scale
6. Safety for the Seafarers
5 4 3 2 1
I feel safe when there are armed
1 guards that protect us, inside and out
of the vessel.          
I feel certain when there are armed
2
guards roaming on the vessel.          
I consider having armed guards on
3 board that can carry firearms for the
safety of seafarers.          
I believe that hiring of armed guards
4 can secure the life of every crew on
board.          
I feel well-informed that armed guards
5 can prevent casualties to happen on
the occasion of a pirate attack.          
Securing Scale
7.
the Merchant Marine Vessel 5 4 3 2 1
I expect that hiring of armed guards
can reduce the damage to the
1 surrounding of the vessel because of
gun firing between armed guards and
pirates.          
2 I feel secure by having armed guards          
on board that can protect vessel from
 ASIAN INSTITUTE OF MARITIME STUDIES
Roxas Boulevard cor., Arnaiz Avenue, Pasay City 1302, Philippines

pirate attacks.
I find it very convenient that armed
guards will give additional information
3
to the seafarers on how to secure the
vessels in the event of a pirate attack.          
I feel assured when there is an armed
4 guard on the ship who secures the
vessel.          
I believe that armed guards carrying
5 firearms are sufficient enough to
protect the vessel and its cargo.          
Scale
8. Robbery, Hijack, Hostage
5 4 3 2 1
I believe that deploying armed guards
1 can prevent robbery of the ship
cargo/goods.          
I think that hiring additional armed
2 guards can prevent possible hijack of
the vessel.          
I expect that deploying armed guards
3 can prevent attempted hostage
among the crew.          
I feel certain that hiring of armed
guards can protect the crew and the
4
vessel from getting harm or damage
with these three acts of piracy.          
I find it beneficial for the crew that
having armed guards on vessel will
5
lead them to avoid using firearms in
order to fend off pirates.          
Scale
9. Company Losses
5 4 3 2 1
I think that hiring of armed guards on
merchant marine vessel can avoid
1
losses from the company through acts
of piracy.          
I guess that hiring of armed guards
2 can prevent company losses as well
as ship owner’s losses.          
I believe that hiring of armed guards
3 can protect the reputation and
company brand name.          
I suppose that hiring of armed guard
can avoid the time scheduled delayed
4 on transporting cargoes/goods from
one port to another because of pirate
attacks.          
5 I expect that hiring of armed guards          
 ASIAN INSTITUTE OF MARITIME STUDIES
Roxas Boulevard cor., Arnaiz Avenue, Pasay City 1302, Philippines

will reduce company losses in terms

of insurance for the family when a
crew suffers from injury, death, or
held as captive due to piracy.

Part 2. This part aims to determine the perception of the respondents on the
disadvantages on hiring armed guard on board merchant Marine vessel.

Instruction: Check the given boxes according to the rate of your level of agreement
base on the scale. All answer will be accepted.

Scale
10. Safety for the Seafarers
5 4 3 2 1
I am in doubt that I am safe with an
1
armed guard hired in a vessel.          
I find it unsettling when an armed
2
guard roams in a vessel.          
I am unsure whether the armed
3 guards can actually protect the
seafarers in a vessel.          
I find it unsettling that the armed
4
guards are equipped with firearms.          
I am afraid of the risk that armed
guards can bring on board for the
5
crew such as violence, taking
advantage of their power, etc.          
Securing Scale
11.
the Merchant Marine Vessel 5 4 3 2 1
I expect that hiring of armed guards
can increase the damage to the
1 surrounding of the vessel because of
gun firing between armed guards and
pirates.          
I believe it is not important of hiring
2 armed guards in terms of securing the
vessel and its cargo.          
I find it not useful that the armed
guards will give additional information
3
to the seafarers regarding on securing
the vessel in the occurrence of piracy.          
I think there is a potential that armed
guards can cause chaos on board
4
since they have the privilege of
having weapons.          
I believe that armed guards carrying
5 firearms are not sufficient enough to
protect the vessel and its cargo.          
12. Robbery, Hijack, Hostage Scale
 ASIAN INSTITUTE OF MARITIME STUDIES
Roxas Boulevard cor., Arnaiz Avenue, Pasay City 1302, Philippines

5 4 3 2 1
I am skeptical that deploying of armed
1 guards can prevent robbery of the
vessel and ship cargo/goods.          
I am skeptical that deploying of armed
2 guards can prevent the possibility of
hijacking the vessel.          
I am skeptical that deploying of armed
3 guards can prevent the attempt of
taking hostage among the crew.          
I believe that hiring of armed guards
4 cannot protect the crew from getting
harm with these three acts of piracy.          
I believe armed guards may force the
seafarers to equip firearms where in
5
situation that armed guards lack the
manpower to fend off the pirates.          
Scale
13. Company Losses
5 4 3 2 1
I know that hiring of armed guards on
merchant marine vessel will not avoid
1
further losses from the company
through acts of piracy.          
I think that hiring of armed guards will
2 not prevent ship losses as part of ship
owner’s losses.          
I believed that hiring of armed guards
cannot protect the reputation and
3
company brand name after an
occurrence of pirate attack.