GEORGE TOWN, July 25 – The Penang Port Commission (PPC) has decided to dispose of the state’s iconic ferries following the sinking of the “Pulau Kapas.” PPC chairman Datuk Yeoh Soon Hin announced that despite receiving offers to buy or rent the ferries, the high costs and lack of suitable docking locations led to this decision. The sinking of Pulau Kapas at the Sultan Abdul Halim Terminal in Butterworth highlighted these challenges, as efforts to convert the ferry into a floating restaurant were abandoned due to non-compliance with lease conditions, resulting in the lease termination in February 2023.
Pulau Kapas, built in 1981 and retired from service in May 2020, was reported sinking early today due to a leak that could not be repaired. The ferry, which ceased operations alongside other car-carrying ferries on January 1, 2021, and a ferry that carried motorcycles and bicycles until last year, is now secured with mooring lines to prevent further damage and potential oil spills. This marks the end of an era for Penang’s iconic ferries, as the state moves forward with plans to dispose of these historical vessels.
