THE Penang ferry has been shuttling passengers to and from mainland Butterworth and the island for more than 120 years. Started in 1894 by Quah Beng Kee and his brothers, it is the oldest ferry service in Malaysia.

The Penang Harbour Board took over the cross-strait transit in 1924. It was then the only mode of transportation connecting the mainland and island before the Penang bridge opened in 1985. The ferry would have reportedly incurred a loss of at least RM700 for every trip since then.

There are currently six ferry vessels carrying both passengers and vehicles across the Penang Strait daily. The ferry runs roughly every 20 to 30 minutes and takes about 15 minutes to cover the 3km distance.

Fares range from RM0.60 to RM 7.70. Passengers are only required to pay once at either Penang or Butterworth. There is no charge for the return journey.

Prasarana Malaysia is slated to take over from Penang Port by end of 2017, rebranding it rapidFerry. The transition is already affecting the service, as some passengers have told The Malaysia Insight. – November 1, 2017.