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GEORGE TOWN: Penang’s iconic ferries will retire on December 31. They will be replaced by “fast ferries” similar to those used in Langkawi from January 1.
With this move, travelers using cars to travel between the mainland and the island will no longer be able to take the ferry, but instead will have to use one of the two bridges.
One of the last two vessels will cease operations on December 31 and the other will remain to carry only motorcycles and bicycles until the newer vessels enter service.
In mid-2022, five new vessels, three “water buses” and two transporters for motorcycles and emergency vehicles will be introduced, at a cost of RM64 million. The cost includes upgrades to terminals on the island and the mainland.
The new vessels would increase the reliability of the cross-channel service and shorten the travel time from about 20 minutes to 10 minutes, the Penang Port Commission (PPC) said at a press conference today. The service would operate with an interval of 20 to 30 minutes.
The commission also said that the last two remaining vessels, Pulau Talang Talang and Pulau Angsa, will be turned into a floating museum and restaurant.
PPC President Tan Teik Cheng said he was looking for interested parties to present his proposals and would also consider other purposes for the vessels.
However, he said both ferries, believed to be in their 40s, would remain docked at the Tanjung City Marina in George Town.
Tan said the decision to recall the old ferries was simply due to age and cost, because spare parts for the engines had to be purchased from Germany and Sweden.
“With the blockade, it was difficult to obtain these pieces. So every morning I pray a lot that these two old ferries don’t break down.
“I also pray that the phone does not ring to break the news that the ferry has broken down,” he said, adding that it would have cost more than RM2 million to repair and refit a ferry.
Tan said the reason for eliminating the ferries carrying cars was that the two bridges are readily available and the majority of the 1.2 million of the 1.5 million ferry users per year were pedestrians.
He said the Finance Ministry has given RM30 million to Penang Port Sdn Bhd (PPSB), the company licensed by PPC to manage the state’s ports, buy the new vessels and upgrade the terminals at both ends. The remaining sum of RM34 million will be borne by the company.
Giving details of the upgrade, PPSB CEO Sasedharan Vasudevan said he had commissioned a naval architect to come up with the design for the new water buses, which would be modeled after the one in Amsterdam.
He said both ferry terminals in George Town and Butterworth would be closed for the time being to allow them to be modified to accommodate newer water buses and “water wheels” (vehicle transporters) later on.
For now, he said, those who wanted to take the water ferries would have to use the current cruise terminal at Swettenham Pier on King Edward Place. A new bus stop would be built near the pier.
On the Butterworth side, a pontoon would be installed next to the existing ferry terminal to assist in the transfer of passengers. Transportation services for the elderly, disabled and pregnant women would be provided on both sides.
Sasedharan said that the new water buses accommodate 200 passengers at a time and 100 motorcycles via vehicle carriers. He said the waterbus would have speeds of 12-15 knots (22-27 km / h) compared to seven to eight knots for the old ferries.
Tan said the rates would remain the same for now, until the water ferries are introduced. The adult rate is RM1.20, but it is half price for children, the elderly and the disabled.
“However, these prices may be subject to change as deemed appropriate by the SPPP (Penang Port Commission), determined by a consultative meeting with stakeholders and subsequently referred to the Minister of Transportation.”
