BUTTERWORTH – The Penang Port Commission (PPC) and Penang Port Sdn Bhd (PPSB) should hold off attempts to remove or repurpose dockyard structures and facilities in the event that the double-decker ferries are here to stay.
The authorities should not rush to demolish or remove facilities related to ferry services yet, said Bagan Dalam assemblyman M. Satees.
“From the beginning, the state government told PPC and Transport Ministry to maintain the ferry services. And, if the maintenance cost is too high, get new ferries that will cater to foot passengers and vehicles.”
It was learnt that work to remove the steel structures at the Bagan Dalam dockyard has started. The dockyard is where the ferries are sent for maintenance and repainting works.
The dockyard has been around for more than 100 years, but dismantling work started less than two months after the ferries stopped their services.
Satees said the dockyard at Jalan Assumption, Butterworth, is located on the bank of Prai River and was built during the colonial days.
He said that there is the possibility of the dockyard being removed.
The structures belong to PPC, the federal authority that governs Penang ports, while PPSB is the operator of ports and ferry services.
A retired PPSB official, who requested anonymity, questioned the dismantling of the dockyard given that there might be a chance for the ferries to stay.
“If there is a change of government – what with the next general election being not too far away – there might be a change in policy. The dockyard should remain for now – especially if the terminal infrastructure still exists.”
PPSB chief executive officer Sasedharan Vasudevan told The Vibes that he will look into the claim, but stressed that the land and steel structures belong to PPC – and as the port operator, PPSB had leased the land to a logistics company.
“Prasarana Malaysia Bhd could have removed the spare parts and other items that the company bought while it was the ferry operator.”
Prasarana operated the ferry services between May 2018 and December 31 last year.
The ferries – Pulau Pinang, Pulau Undan, Pulau Paya, Pulau Rimau and Pulau Talang Talang – are retired from service. Currently, the Pulau Angsa service plies the Penang channel ferrying two-wheelers.
The service stopped ferrying four-wheelers from January 1, when speedboats were introduced for foot passengers to cross the channel.
PPC also announced that PPSB would take over the ferry operations from Prasarana on the same day.
PPSB’s fleet of water buses and vehicle transporters to ferry motorcyclists, cyclists, and foot passengers is expected to arrive mid-2022.
Penang’s ferry service began in 1894 using steamships, and the fleet has been replaced many times over the years.
The double-decker ferries were commissioned between 1971 and 2004. – The Vibes, March 10, 2021
