GEORGE TOWN – It is not a big issue, said Penang Port Commission (PPC) chairman Datuk Tan Teik Cheng after photos of an old ferry sinking in Sg Prai surfaced online.
He told The Vibes that the vessel, named Pulau Pinang, has been parked in the Sg Prai dockyard since November 27, 2019 for repairs.
“The repair process was disrupted because we failed to obtain spare parts, which need to be specially ordered from the Netherlands.
“But we will continue the repairs today. It is not certain how long that will take.
“The overhaul process is challenging because we have to wait until the water recedes to pump it out of the ferry.”
The ferry will be turned into a museum due to its name, he said.
“Once the repairs are completed, the ferry will be handed over to the appointed management company and moved to the Tg City marina on Penang island, where it will be displayed as a museum.”
Tan said there are three unused ferries at the Sultan Abdul Halim terminal in Butterworth, with two to serve as tourist ferries and one converted into a floating restaurant.
Yesterday, The Vibes reported that locals are up in arms after the double-decker Pulau Pinang was left to sink.
Pictures of the vessel in its sad state went viral, causing a social media frenzy, with netizens berating the state’s port authorities and maintenance crew.
Penang’s ferry service, which has connected the island with the mainland in Seberang Prai for the past 126 years, was replaced with high-speed passenger boats on January 1.
It is understood that PPC last month provided a transport ferry for bicycle and motorcycle users. – The Vibes, June 6, 2021
