GEORGE TOWN – The Penang Port Commission (PPC) revealed that the construction of new ferries to serve commuters travelling between Penang island and the mainland has been progressing well at two shipyards in Vietnam.
PPC chairman Datuk Tan Teik Cheng said the project was 40% complete and the design of the ferries has already taken shape, with construction expected to be completed by June 2023.
“I led a delegation to visit both the shipyards in Vietnam on October 3 and 4. The delegation also included representatives from the Transport Ministry and Penang Port Sdn Bhd (PPSB).
“The objective of the visit was to check the progress of the new ferries being built and to have discussions with the shipbuilding company and PPSB as to the (project’s) progress and the scheduled date of the ferries’ arrival in Penang,” he said in a statement today.
Tan said once completed the ferries would be first tested in May, before their arrival in Penang by June 2023.
He added that PPC believes the rejuvenation of the Penang ferry service will provide new impetus for consumers who use the service to travel between Penang island and the mainland.
“The PPC had earlier called for an open tender aimed at giving the Penang ferry services a complete makeover. A total of 36 companies submitted their bids comprising 23 local companies and 13 foreign companies.
“Nine companies were shortlisted and Damen Shipyards Gorinchem B.V. Netherlands won the tender after meeting the criteria set by the PPC,” he said. – Bernama, October 8, 2022
