FOUR-metre high waves forced a ferry with 259 passengers from Langkawi heading to Kuala Kedah to return to the island this afternoon.
The ferry, which departed from the Kuah Ferry Terminal at 12:30pm, turned back after sailing for 25 minutes, said Konsortium Ferry Line Ventures Sdn Bhd general manager Baharin Baharom.
"The ferry travelled for 15 nautical miles from Langkawi before encountering turbulent seas and poor weather conditions. Consequently, we ordered it to return to Langkawi to avoid risks to the passengers' safety. As of now, the status of the passengers on the ferry is undetermined since it is still on the way back to Langkawi," he said.
Yesterday, 808 ferry passengers were stranded in Kuala Kedah and Langkawi after the ferry company had to cancel four trips in the afternoon due to rough seas. The four-metre high waves and wind speeds of 16 to 18 knots posed a threat to ferry and small boat operations. – July 28, 2024.
