Penang Catamaran Ferry Plan

Penang Catamaran Ferry Plan is a plan to have a fleet of catamarans ferry passengers and commuters from different past of Penang Island to the ferry terminal at Penang Sentral. This is part of the Penang Transport Master Plan, which calls for setting up of five smaller ferry terminals at Straits Quay, on the island being reclaimed at Tanjong Tokong, Gurney Wharf, The Light Waterfront and Queensbay Coast. This is in addition to the main ferry services between Weld Quay and Penang Sentral.

Updates on the Penang Catamaran Ferry

17 August, 2018
The Star reported that plans to enhance the ferry service have stalled with no clear direction of its future because Prasarana Malaysia is cash-strapped and cannot give a clear indication of its plans. Prasarana Malaysia took over the ferry services from Penang Port Sdn Bhd in May, 2018. Penang Port was reported to be losing RM20 million a year running the ferry service. It handed over the ferry services to Prasarana Malaysia for a token sum of RM1.

According to Muhammad Yazurin Sallij, head of Penang Rapid Ferry, about 1000 people use the services every day, but fewer than 1000 vehicles do. As such, passenger ferries would be the right model for the services.