The collision involving the ferry Teluk Bahang and MV Mekar Jaya occurred at about 8.40pm.
BUTTERWORTH: Twenty-one people were injured after a Penang ferry collided with the MV Mekar Jaya within the limits of Penang Port yesterday, according to Penang Port Commission (PPC) chairman Datuk Yeoh Soon Hin.
He said the collision involving the ferry Teluk Bahang and MV Mekar Jaya occurred at about 8.40pm.
Based on initial information, MV Mekar Jaya was travelling from Dermaga Air Dalam in Butterworth to Swettenham Pier Cruise Terminal when it collided with the ferry, which was heading towards Sultan Abdul Halim Ferry Terminal in Butterworth.
Yeoh said all injured passengers had been taken to hospital for further treatment and no injured passengers remained at the Sultan Abdul Halim Ferry Terminal.
“PPC, together with Penang Port Sdn Bhd, will take all necessary measures to ensure the required follow-up action is taken regarding the passengers involved, while ensuring the safety and smooth operation of the port,” he said.
Yeoh said ferry services continued to operate as usual and were not affected by the incident.
Earlier, Penang Fire and Rescue Department operations assistant director John Sagun Francis said about 92 passengers were believed to have been involved, with an estimated six seriously injured and taken to hospital by Penang Port and external ambulances.
“The situation at the terminal is calm and under control. The injured have been sent to hospital while the other passengers have dispersed,” he told reporters yesterday.
The incident involved Teluk Bahang, bearing IMO registration number 997610.
The Fire and Rescue Department received the emergency call at 9.58pm and arrived at the scene nine minutes later at 10.07pm, covering a distance of 8km.
John said the operation was ongoing, with authorities also verifying the exact number of passengers and casualties involved.
Penang Port assisted in the operation, while seven Fire and Rescue Department personnel, including operations commander Rithuwan Nordi Md Ashari, were deployed to the scene.
Teluk Bahang is one of four new catamaran ferries introduced to replace Penang’s iconic old ferries, which were retired after decades of service.
The four new ferries — Teluk Bahang, Teluk Kampi, Teluk Duyung and Teluk Kumbar — began full operations in August 2023, serving the route between Raja Tun Uda Ferry Terminal on Penang island and Sultan Abdul Halim Ferry Terminal in Butterworth.
The old ferries were retired at the end of 2020, although one continued carrying motorcycles and bicycles until July 2023. The new vessels were introduced as part of the modernisation of Penang’s ferry service.
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