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Penang ferry service

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The Penang Ferry Service is the oldest ferry service within the State of Penang, Malaysia, connecting the city of George Town on Penang Island and Butterworth on the mainland. This cross-strait transit has been operational since 1894, making it the oldest ferry service in Malaysia.[1] Its fleet of six ferries carries both passengers and automobiles across the Penang Strait daily; each roll-on/roll-off ferry could accommodate cars either on its lower deck or on both decks.[2]

Penang Ferry Service
Teluk Bahang catamaran departing George Town for Butterworth across the Penang Strait
Locale Penang, Malaysia
Penang ferry service (Penang)
WaterwayPenang Strait
Transit typePassenger and automobile ferry
OwnerPenang Port Sdn Bhd
Began operation1894; 130 years ago (1894)
System length3 km (1.9 mi)
No. of lines1
No. of vessels4
No. of terminals2

The first cross-strait ferry service between Penang Island and the mainland began in 1894.[1] This regular service was initiated by Quah Beng Kee, an entrepreneur from Penang Island together with his 4 brothers forming a company named Beng Brothers.[3] Originally a passenger-only service, the ferries were later refitted to carry automobiles in 1925. From 1924, the ferries were operated by the Penang Port Commission (formerly Penang Harbour Board), through its subsidiary, Penang Port Sdn Bhd.

In 2017, the Malaysian federal government began transferring the ferry service from Penang Port Sdn Bhd to Prasarana Malaysia, a government-owned entity which manages urban public transportation across Malaysia.[2][4][5] Following the handover, the ferry service has been rebranded as Rapid Ferry. On 31 December 2020, Rapid Ferry ended its service after 3 years.[6]

In 2021, Penang Port Sdn Bhd, which took over the ferry service from Prasarana Malaysia Bhd, began operating fast passenger boats between the mainland and the island, while one of the iconic ferries, Pulau Angsa, was used to transport only motorcycles and bicycles.

Ferry fleet

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The seven ferries in the current fleet and 13 retired ferries are named after islands in Malaysia.[7]

Status Upper deck configuration Name Year built Deadweight tonnage IMO ship identification number Photograph Remark
Retired Passenger Kulim 1929 N/A N/A Tanjong's sister, sank on 1941 by Japan near Jeti Lama, Butterworth
Retired Passenger Tanjong 1929 N/A N/A Kulim's sister, sank on 1941 by Japan near Jeti Lama, Butterworth
Retired Mixed Bagan 1938 N/A N/A taken away by the Japanese to Sumatera on 1941. Bagan was brought back to Butterworth to be repaired for reuse after the Second World War on 1946.
Retired Mixed Pulau Pinang 1956 N/A Sold to Pt. Pewete and renamed to KMP Aeng Mas
Retired Mixed Pulau Aman 1959 139 5286831   Destroyed in a fire in Johor in 2003 [1]
Retired Mixed Pulau Langkawi 1959 139 5286867
Retired Mixed Pulau Pangkor 1959 139 5286893 Sold to Indonesia operator & rename as Bahari Nusantara
Retired Mixed Pulau Tioman 1959 139 5287017
Retired Mixed Pulau Lumut 1967 139 6422913 Last spotted at Sepanggar Sabah in 2018 [2]
Retired Mixed Pulau Redang 1971 139 7030470
Retired Passenger[8] Pulau Labuan 1971 139 7038408  
Out of service by 31 Dec 2020 Mixed Pulau Undan 1975 262 734724
Owned by Penang Port Commission (PPC)

To be scrapped [3]

Retired/Sold in 2018 Mixed Pulau Rawa 1975 262 7343736   Beached at Teluk Intan, presume scrapped. [4]
Out of
service by 31 Dec 2020		 Mixed Pulau Talang Talang 1975 262 7343748   Owned by Penang Port Commission (PPC)

Planned as sightseeing ferry stationed at Swettenham Pier

Retired/Sold in 2018 Mixed Pulau Rimau 1980 100 7911076   Owned by Ideal group.

Planned as floating restaurant at Queens Waterfront.

Retired in Jul 2022. Mixed till 31 Dec 2020 / Passenger & Motorcycle only till July 2022. [5] Pulau Angsa 1981 100 8010491   Owned by Penang State Government
Retired in 2018 [6] Mixed Pulau Kapas 1981 280 8101082   Owned by Penang Port Commission (PPC)

Sunk in July 2024 [7]

Retired in 2019 Vehicle Pulau Payar 2002 440 9254393   Owned by Penang Port Commission (PPC)

Planned as floating restaurant

Retired in 2019

[8]

Vehicle Pulau Pinang 2002 440 9275244   Owned by Penang Port Commission (PPC)

Planned as museum at Tanjung Marina [9]

Retired Passenger Kenangan 1,2 and 3 1999 156 8958784  
In service Passenger, Motorcycles & Bicycles Teluk Bahang 2023 150 9977610
In service Passenger, Motorcycles & Bicycles Teluk Duyung 2023 150 9977646
In service Passenger, Motorcycles & Bicycles Teluk Kumbar 2023 150 9977622
In service Passenger, Motorcycles & Bicycles Teluk Kampi 2023 150 9977634

Terminals

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At present, the two ferry terminals - one each in George Town and Butterworth - are also run by Penang Port Commission.[4]

Map Location Terminal Image
  George Town Raja Tun Uda  
  Butterworth Sultan Abdul Halim  
 
Aerial photo of the ferry route with the Raja Tun Uda Ferry Terminal on the left and the Sultan Abdul Halim Ferry Terminal on the right

Major events

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The retired Pulau Rimau beached off the Queensbay Mall coast
  • 31 July 1988 – The collapse of the Sultan Abdul Halim ferry terminal bridge caused 32 fatalities, while 1,674 others were wounded.[9]
  • 1 January 2021 – The Penang ferry service is terminated after 126 years and replaced with new fast boats.
  • 7 August 2023 – New Penang ferry was launched with replaces speedboats.

Ferry schedule

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A typical passenger deck
 
A typical vehicle deck
 
The Butterworth passenger waiting area
 
People at Swettenham Pier queue for the speedboat

Pangkalan Sultan Abdul Halim (Mainland Side)

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Weekdays:

  • First ferry departure : 0630 hours
  • Last ferry departure : 2030 hours
  • Duration : 8-10mins

Weekends:

  • First ferry departure : 0700 hours
  • Last ferry departure : 2030 hours
  • Duration : 8-10mins

Pangkalan Raja Tun Uda (Island side)

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  • First ferry departure : 0540 hours
  • Last ferry departure : 0040 hours
  • Duration : 15-20mins

Arrival Interval

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  • 5.20 am to 10.00p.m. : 20 – 30 minutes with 4 ferries operational
  • 10.00 pm to 1.00a.m : 40 minutes with 1 ferry operational

Ferry rates

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The information and ticketing counter at Sultan Abdul Halim Ferry Terminal. (Closed)

Pedestrian

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Type Rate (in Malaysian Ringgit (RM))
Adult RM2.00
Children (between 5 and 12 years old RM1.00

Season ticket (pedestrians) – valid for two months from date of issue

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Type Rate (in Malaysian Ringgit (RM))
Adult RM30.00

Special passengers

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Type Rate (in Malaysian Ringgit (RM))
Students in school uniform RM0.60
Holders of Kad Orang Kurang Upaya (Disabled Person Card) Free

Vehicles

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Type of vehicles Rate (in Malaysian Ringgit (RM))
Bicycle RM2.00
Motorcycle (inclusive of pillion rider) RM2.50

References

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  1. ^ a b Cheah, Jin Seng (2013). Penang: 500 Early Postcards. Editions Didier Millet. ISBN 9789671061718.
  2. ^ a b "Penang attractions painted on two ferries - Metro News | The Star Online". The Star. Retrieved 22 September 2017.
  3. ^ Alan Teh Leam Seng (23 September 2018). "Malaysia's earliest ferry service" (PDF). New Sunday Times. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 December 2020. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
  4. ^ a b "MMC eyes handover of loss-making Penang ferry ops to Prasarana in 2 months". The Edge Markets. 11 May 2017. Retrieved 22 September 2017.
  5. ^ "Prasarana to take over Penang's ferry service for token sum of RM1". The Star. Retrieved 22 September 2017.
  6. ^ Lim, Anthony (17 December 2020). "Penang ferry service to end on Dec 31 – cars will have to use Penang bridges to cross the channel from 2021- paultan.org"". Paul Tan's Automotive News. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  7. ^ Shipping Data - Ship Reference
  8. ^ "Off-limit zone held waiting folk: Captain", New Straits Times, 1 Mar 1989
  9. ^ "Still traumatised after 29 years - Nation". The Star Online. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
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