GEORGE TOWN: Social media has been abuzz since yesterday with news about the arrival of four new Penang ferries here.
At a cost of RM18 million each, the four new ferries will be used to carry pedestrians and two-wheelers.
Speaking to the New Straits Times today, Penang Port Sdn Bhd (PPSB) chief executive officer Datuk Sasedharan Vasudevan said they were excited that the the new ferries arrived on schedule.
Construction of the new ferries began in January last year.
"We are indeed glad that the construction and delivery of the new ferries are completed as planned despite the challenges faced, including sourcing for the material and such.
"We received the new ferries yesterday and for the next three weeks, we will be preparing them for public use, scheduled next month," he said.
According to Sasedharan, PPSB is also preparing the two ferry terminals , with the Pangkalan Raja Tun Uda ferry terminal here expected to be completed by the end of the month.
News of the new ferries first came to light after photos and video footage of one of them were leaked online back in March.
At that time, Sasedharan confirmed that the video was taken at a shipyard in Haiphong, Vietnam.
A ferry service has linked Penang island with Butterworth in the mainland for over 126 years.
In 2020, the use of the iconic double-decker vehicle and passenger ferries stopped and was replaced with speedboat ferry services for passengers.
One of the older ferries is currently being used for bicycles and motorcycles.