GEORGE TOWN: Thousands of people took the opportunity on New Year's Day to take a free ride on Penang's new fast passenger ferries.
Beginning today, Penang Port Sdn Bhd (PPSB), which took over the ferry service, will only operate fast passenger ferries to replace the phased out iconic car-carrying ferries, while one of the old ferries will transport motorcycles and bicycles.
In less than four hours since the first trip at 6.30am, some 2,000 people had personally experienced the fast passenger ferries.
Goodie bags were handed out to the first 100 passengers who disembarked at the Swettenham Pier Cruise Terminal (SPCT) here.
Retiree Lionel Anthony, 62, who was the first to disembark, said he took the opportunity of the public holiday today to test out the new ride.
"It (the ride) is fast compared to the old ferries. It took just seven minutes to get from the mainland to the island.
"It is also comfortable and fully air-conditioned. I enjoyed my ride very much," he said, adding that this was his first experience on a speed boat.
Compared to the old ferries, where he had to walk a distance to get to the ships, he said the fast passenger ferry was much more convenient.
As for Lim Gaik Bee, 51, she too enjoyed her first ride.
"It was cool inside the ferry due to the air-conditioning.
"It is much faster to get from the mainland to the island now with the fast passenger ferry," she added.
Many of the visibly excited passengers also took the opportunity to take photos inside the fast ferry.
Meanwhile, Penang Port Commission (PPC) chairman Datuk Tan Teik Cheng, who monitored the first day of operations of the fast passenger ferries, said everything proceeded smoothly.
"Between 6.30am and 10am, there were already 2,000 people who boarded the fast ferries.
"I am sure the numbers will pick up later in the day due to the public holiday," he said.
He also welcomed views and suggestions from the people to further improve the service.
After nearly a century of service, Penang's iconic car-carrying ferries ceased operations past midnight.
Beginning today, PPSB operates only fast passenger ferries between the mainland and island, while one of the existing ferries will be used to transport bicycles and motorcycles.
This is only in the interim before PPSB introduces passenger-only water buses and vehicle transporters by July 2022.
Meanwhile, Tan also assured the public that the old ferries would not "disappear" from the Penang seascape.
"There are plans to turn the ferries into tourism products, especially since the old ferries have contributed to Penang's tourism industry all this while," he added.