 A catamaran off the Raja Tun Uda Ferry Terminal in George Town | |||
| Locale |  Penang | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Waterway | Penang Strait | ||
| Transit type | Passenger and motorcycle ferries | ||
| Owner | Penang Port Commission | ||
| Began operation | 1894 | ||
| System length | 3 km (1.9 mi) | ||
| No. of lines | 1 | ||
| No. of vessels | 4 | ||
| No. of terminals | 2 | ||
| Yearly ridership | 2,125,834 (2024)[1] | ||
| |||
The Penang ferry service is a public ferry system in the Malaysian state of Penang. It operates within the Penang Strait and connects George Town with mainland Seberang Perai. Managed by the Penang Port Commission (PPC), the service comprises a fleet of four catamarans that operate between the Raja Tun Uda and Sultan Abdul Halim terminals.
Established in 1894 by local entrepreneur Quah Beng Kee and his brothers, the ferry service is the oldest in Malaysia. In 1924, the PPC took over the operation of cross-strait ferry services and the subsequent year saw the introduction of vessels capable of transporting automobiles. This ferry service remained the only transportation link between George Town and the mainland until the completion of the Penang Bridge in 1985.
From 2017 to 2020, the service came under the management of Prasarana Malaysia and was rebranded as Rapid Ferry. However, persistent maintenance issues and an aging fleet led to a brief suspension of the service in 2020. The PPC regained control of the ferry service in 2021 and introduced smaller passenger-only speedboats as a temporary measure. In 2023, the current fleet of four catamarans became operational. Throughout 2024, the ferries recorded a ridership of 2.1 million passengers and 747,785 vehicles.[1]
- ^ a b "Ferry Service Statistic". Port of Penang. Retrieved 23 Jan 2025.