PENANG residents and tourists can enjoy free shuttle ferry service between the island’s Raja Tun Uda Base (Swettenham Pier cruise terminal) and Sultan Abdul Halim Base in Butterworth for one month starting August 7. 

Transport Minister Anthony Loke said four new ferries (about RM15 million each) have arrived in Penang and Penang Port Sdn Bhd will use the four weeks as a trial period to carry out various exercises. 

“This four-week training, among others, involves ferry pilots and at the same time, the Marine Department will commission these four ferries. 

“This new ferry service will operate from August 7, starting 6am to 8.30pm, while the frequency at peak times is every 30 minutes, of which the time taken for a one-way trip is 10 minutes (old ferry 20 minutes). 

“When it starts operating on August 7, all passengers including non-citizens can enjoy this ferry service for one month without paying any fare,” he said when inspecting the new ferries today.  

In terms of capacity, a ferry can accommodate 150 passengers and 50 motorcycles and bicycles (only two-wheelers) at a time. 

He added that up to three ferries will operate every day with one ferry placed on standby. 

He said the new ferries were state-of-the-art and had complete safety features that included closed circuit cameras. 

When asked what the fare would be after free service ended, Loke said it would be announced after discussion and agreement with the Penang Port Commission, but he assured people that the rates would still be reasonable. – Bernama, July 8, 2023.