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GEORGE TOWN: Penangians have jumped on the new speedboats that link the island and the mainland like ducks overboard.
The new fast ferries, replacing Penang’s old pedestrian ferries, officially started today from Swettenham Pier and hundreds of people crowded aboard, eager to try them out for the first time.
There were crowds walking from the old ferry terminal about 800 meters away, as many had gotten off the buses at the old terminal. They said they did not know that the old terminal was no longer in use.
A new bus stop has been installed outside Swettenham Pier.
At the terminal, pedestrians should first reach the waiting area on the first floor of the pier terminal using escalators. There, the auxiliary police officers give them numbered stubs, since the tours are free for two weeks.
They have to hand over the heels of the other end.
When the ferry reaches Butterworth, the waiting passengers are taken to a ramp that connects to a pontoon below. The robust pontoon can accommodate 150 people at a time.
According to officials, the 200-passenger ferries didn’t see many people when they began their service at 6.30 a.m., with just 27 people on the fast ferry leaving Butterworth.
However, the numbers increased as the day progressed to a high of 157, the largest ever crowd recorded on the new speedboats at 1pm.
Penang Port Sdn Bhd Chief Operating Officer Radhi Mohamad, when meeting at the pier, said the crowd was expected to increase tomorrow as today’s break could be due to the New Year.
Later, PPSB issued a statement, saying that 10,000 people had taken the new speedboats as of 5pm today.
Azizan Ibrahim, 57, a first-time fast ferryman, said that while the trip from Butterrworth took less than 10 minutes, the nostalgia for the old ferry was hard to forget.
His wife Nor Azizah Mat Salleh, 51, said the old ferries allowed walking to enjoy the cool sea breeze.
“Here, we are forced to sit in one place. It feels strange to do it after using the ferry for so long, ”he said.
Azizah said it was at the urging of his son, Hakimi, 13, that they decided to give the speedboat a try.
Siriviraj Shanmugam, 38, and his wife, Jennifer Simon, 35, also preferred the old ferries, but felt the new ones were efficient and fast.
They said it was easy to get on a ferry now compared to before as they waited less than 15 minutes for one.
Technician Clodius Fabian, 30, said the speedboats were a “fantastic” change from older ferries.
He and his date, Noria Massangi, 24, said it was a memorable trip on the ship and that they were happy to use the service.
Two speedboats will be in service from today and will be free for two weeks, after which a charge of RM1.20 per adult and 60 sen for children will apply.
There is an additional ferry waiting if passenger traffic increases.
Riau-built ferries, provided by the Langkawi Ferry Service, will operate at 20-minute intervals during peak hours and at 30-minute intervals during non-peak hours.
Ferry operators say the new ferry service would handle the pedestrian traffic of the old ferry service. A total of 1.3 million pedestrians used the ferries last year.
Another 200,000 users were in cars and two-wheelers.
The new vessels will be in service until June 2022 before giving way to three “water buses” and two motorcycle carriers.
Meanwhile, motorcyclists, cyclists and tricycles will use the Pulau Angsa, the only vehicular ferry that will remain in service.
