PENANG Port Commission (PPC) has promised a swift investigation into a collision last night between a passenger ferry and the MV Mekar Jaya chemical tanker in the Penang Channel.
Twenty-one passengers were believed to have suffered minor injuries and were taken by ambulance to the Penang Hospital, while motorcycles were thrown to the ground during the 830pm incident.
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PPC chairman Datuk Yeoh Soon Hin, in a statement, said that the Mekar Jaya was en route to the Swettenham Pier Cruise Terminal on the island side when it crashed into the ferry, which was navigating to the Pengkalan Sultan Abdul Halim Terminal on the Butterworth mainland side.
Yeoh described the incident as minor, saying that the daily ferry operations would continue as usual.
This is believed to be the first collision for the new ferries purchased by the port operator - Penang Port Sdn Bhd (PPSB) when the rollout began in 2003.
It operates from 630am until 11 pm daily.
Its fleet consists of four new ferries named Teluk Bahang, Teluk Kampi, Teluk Duyung, and Teluk Kumbar and the capacity is for pedestrians, bicycles, and motorcycles only, with the travelling time at 10 minutes only.
On Wednesday, passengers aboard the Teluk Bahang ferry claimed they heard a loud bang before the vessel rocked from side to side during a collision with the MV Mekar Jaya in Penang Port waters last night.
A passenger who wished to be known only as Zaidi said the incident occurred as the ferry was nearing the Sultan Abdul Halim Ferry Terminal (PSAH) in Butterworth.
He noted that the ferry was carrying approximately 45 to 50 motorcycles at the time, and he was standing at the rear of the motorcycle deck.
"During the incident, we were probably only about five minutes away from reaching the terminal. Suddenly, I saw a dark-coloured cargo ship cross in front of the ferry before hearing a very loud metallic crash from the front section," he said.
He said the impact caused passengers to start screaming, and chaos broke out inside the ferry.
"The ferry swayed to the left and right before spinning. Many motorcycles inside the ferry also overturned, causing several passengers and riders to fall.
"I tried to help the passengers who had fallen, while some sustained injuries to their heads, arms, and legs," he added.
He noted that the injured victims were subsequently taken for medical treatment by ambulance as soon as the ferry arrived at the terminal.
Based on preliminary information, the MV Mekar Jaya was en route from the Butterworth Deep Water Wharf (DADB) to the Swettenham Pier Cruise Terminal (SPCT), while the Teluk Bahang ferry was heading toward the Pangkalan Sultan Abdul Halim Ferry Terminal. - September 2, 2026
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