New life for an old workhorse

This is an occasion too significant for me to overlook. At around 1.22pm today, the iconic Penang ferry, Pulau Pinang, was successfully towed past the KTMB railway bridge at the Bagan Dalam Slipway, marking a key milestone in its transformation into Asia's first floating museum. For now, it is temporarily docked at the Swettenham Pier Cruise Terminal (SPCT) while awaiting its final move to Tanjung City Marina.

According to Buletin Mutiara, people of all ages gathered along the slipway to witness this historic event. Some cheered with excitement, while others, overcome with nostalgia, bid the vessel a heartfelt farewell. Pulau Pinang, along with five or six other ferries, once played a vital role in ferrying passengers between the island and the mainland. Now, instead of transporting people, it will preserve Penang's rich heritage and carry the stories of generations who once sailed on it. Thank you, Pulau Pinang, for your incredible service to Penang. You’ve made Penangites proud, and we are grateful for the memories.

The yellow double-ended ferries that chugged across the Channel were once a crucial mode of transport to ferry both passengers and vehicles between George Town and Butterworth. Penang's ferry service was the oldest in Malaysia, introduced by local entrepreneur Quah Beng Kee and his brothers under the name Beng Brothers back in 1894.

The old iconic ferries, some of which were commissioned in the 1970s, were officially retired at the end of 2020 and replaced by faster speedboats. One ferry continued to serve vehicles, specifically motorcycles and bicycles, until July 2023. By August 2023, a fleet of four modern ferries, costing RM100 million and operated by Penang Port Sdn Bhd, took over the route.

As for Pulau Pinang, which belonged to the Penang Port Commission, it was leased to Printhero Merchandise Sdn Bhd for conversion into the Penang Ferry Museum. Its new role is no longer just about moving people, but about preserving the stories, history and legacy of Penang’s maritime heritage. (This picture from Buletin Mutiara's facebook.)