Penang Ferry Service
Teluk Bahang catamaran departing George Town for Butterworth across the Penang Strait
Locale Penang, Malaysia
Penang ferry service (Penang)
WaterwayPenang Strait
Transit typePassenger and automobile ferry
OwnerPenang Port Sdn Bhd
Began operation1894 (1894)
System length3 km (1.9 mi)
No. of lines1
No. of vessels4
No. of terminals2

The Penang Ferry Service is the oldest ferry service within the State of Penang, Malaysia, connecting the city of George Town on Penang Island and Butterworth on the mainland. This cross-strait transit has been operational since 1894, making it the oldest ferry service in Malaysia.[1] Its fleet of six ferries carries both passengers and automobiles across the Penang Strait daily; each roll-on/roll-off ferry could accommodate cars either on its lower deck or on both decks.[2]

The first cross-strait ferry service between Penang Island and the mainland began in 1894.[1] This regular service was initiated by Quah Beng Kee, an entrepreneur from Penang Island together with his 4 brothers forming a company named Beng Brothers.[3] Originally a passenger-only service, the ferries were later refitted to carry automobiles in 1925. From 1924, the ferries were operated by the Penang Port Commission (formerly Penang Harbour Board), through its subsidiary, Penang Port Sdn Bhd.

In 2017, the Malaysian federal government began transferring the ferry service from Penang Port Sdn Bhd to Prasarana Malaysia, a government-owned entity which manages urban public transportation across Malaysia.[2][4][5] Following the handover, the ferry service has been rebranded as Rapid Ferry. On 31 December 2020, Rapid Ferry ended its service after 3 years.[6]

In 2021, Penang Port Sdn Bhd, which took over the ferry service from Prasarana Malaysia Bhd, began operating fast passenger boats between the mainland and the island, while one of the iconic ferries, Pulau Angsa, was used to transport only motorcycles and bicycles.

Ferry fleet

The seven ferries in the current fleet and ten retired ferries are named after islands in Malaysia.[7]

StatusUpper deck configuration*NameYear builtDeadweight tonnageIMO ship identification numberPhotograph
Retired Mixed Pulau Pinang 1956 N/A 5286922
Retired Mixed Pulau Aman 1959 139 5286831
Retired Mixed Pulau Langkawi 1959 139 5286867
Retired Mixed Pulau Pangkor 1959 139 5286893
Retired Mixed Pulau Tioman 1959 139 5287017
Retired Mixed Pulau Lumut 1967 139 6422913
Retired Mixed Pulau Redang 1971 139 7030470
RetiredPassenger[8]Pulau Labuan19711397038408
Retired
 Mixed Pulau Undan 1975 262 734724
Rapid Ferry (Pulau Undan).jpg
Out of
service		MixedPulau Rawa19752627343736
Out of
service		MixedPulau Talang Talang19752627343748
Retired/SoldMixedPulau Rimau19801007911076
Out of
service		MixedPulau Angsa19811008010491
Out of
service		MixedPulau Kapas19812808101082
Out of
service		VehiclePulau Payar20024409254393
Out of
service		VehiclePulau Pinang20024409275244
Out of
service		PassengerKenangan 1,2 and 319991568958784
In servicePassenger, Motorcycles & BicyclesTeluk Bahang20231509977610
Raja Tun Uda Ferry Terminal (P.Angsa, T.Kumbar, T. Bahang) from Teluk Duyung (230812) 04.jpg
In servicePassenger, Motorcycles & BicyclesTeluk Duyung20231509977646
In servicePassenger, Motorcycles & BicyclesTeluk Kumbar20231509977622
Raja Tun Uda Ferry Terminal (P.Angsa, T.Kumbar, T. Bahang) from Teluk Duyung (230812) 04.jpg
In servicePassenger, Motorcycles & BicyclesTeluk Kampi20231509977634
View of George Town from ferry (230812) 06.jpg

Terminals

At present, the two ferry terminals - one each in George Town and Butterworth - are also run by Penang Port Commission.[4]

Map Location Terminal Image
George Town Raja Tun Uda
Butterworth Sultan Abdul Halim
Aerial photo of the ferry route with the Raja Tun Uda Ferry Terminal on the left and the Sultan Abdul Halim Ferry Terminal on the right

Major events

The retired Pulau Rimau beached off the Queensbay Mall coast
  • 31 July 1988 – The collapse of the Sultan Abdul Halim ferry terminal bridge caused 32 fatalities, while 1,674 others were wounded.[9]
  • 1 January 2021 – The Penang ferry service is terminated after 126 years and replaced with new fast boats.
  • 7 August 2023 – New Penang ferry was launched with replaces speedboats.

Ferry schedule

A typical passenger deck
A typical vehicle deck
The Butterworth passenger waiting area
People at Swettenham Pier queue for the speedboat

Pangkalan Sultan Abdul Halim (Mainland Side)

Weekdays:

  • First ferry departure : 0630 hours
  • Last ferry departure : 2030 hours
  • Duration : 8-10mins

Weekends:

  • First ferry departure : 0700 hours
  • Last ferry departure : 2030 hours
  • Duration : 8-10mins

Pangkalan Raja Tun Uda (Island side)

  • First ferry departure : 0540 hours
  • Last ferry departure : 0040 hours
  • Duration : 15-20mins

Arrival Interval

  • 5.20 am to 10.00p.m. : 20 – 30 minutes with 4 ferries operational
  • 10.00 pm to 1.00a.m : 40 minutes with 1 ferry operational

Ferry rates

The information and ticketing counter at Sultan Abdul Halim Ferry Terminal. (Closed)

Pedestrian

TypeRate (in Malaysian Ringgit (RM))
AdultRM2.00
Children (between 5 and 12 years oldRM1.00

Season ticket (pedestrians) – valid for two months from date of issue

TypeRate (in Malaysian Ringgit (RM))
AdultRM30.00

Special passengers

TypeRate (in Malaysian Ringgit (RM))
Students in school uniformRM0.60
Holders of Kad Orang Kurang Upaya (Disabled Person Card)Free

Vehicles

Type of vehiclesRate (in Malaysian Ringgit (RM))
BicycleRM2.00
Motorcycle (inclusive of pillion rider)RM2.50

References

  1. 1 2 Cheah, Jin Seng (2013). Penang: 500 Early Postcards. Editions Didier Millet. ISBN 9789671061718.
  2. 1 2 "Penang attractions painted on two ferries - Metro News | The Star Online". The Star. Retrieved 22 September 2017.
  3. ↑ Alan Teh Leam Seng (23 September 2018). "Malaysia's earliest ferry service" (PDF). New Sunday Times. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 December 2020. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
  4. 1 2 "MMC eyes handover of loss-making Penang ferry ops to Prasarana in 2 months". The Edge Markets. 11 May 2017. Retrieved 22 September 2017.
  5. ↑ "Prasarana to take over Penang's ferry service for token sum of RM1". The Star. Retrieved 22 September 2017.
  6. ↑ Lim, Anthony (17 December 2020). "Penang ferry service to end on Dec 31 – cars will have to use Penang bridges to cross the channel from 2021- paultan.org"". Paul Tan's Automotive News. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  7. ↑ Shipping Data - Ship Reference
  8. ↑ "Off-limit zone held waiting folk: Captain", New Straits Times, 1 Mar 1989
  9. ↑ "Still traumatised after 29 years - Nation". The Star Online. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
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