ALOR STAR: Konsortium Ferry Line Ventures Sdn Bhd (Ferry Line) pledged to optimise its ferry frequency ahead of the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition 2023 (Lima'23) in May.
Its human resources and operations manager, Captain Dr Baharin Baharom, said the company was banking on the completion of the derailed maintenance dredging work near the Kuala Perlis jetty terminal to operate maximum daily trips to and from the resort island.
"We were made to understand that the maintenance dredging work in Kuala Perlis will be completed before Lima'23, scheduled for May 23-27.
"If the project is completed soon, we will be able to coordinate ferry operations from both the Kuala Kedah and Kuala Perlis jetty terminals to improve the movement of visitors to the island," he told the New Straits Times.
Baharim said based on the previous editions of Lima, the Langkawi ferry services run from early morning to late evening.
"Based on records, up to 25,000 passengers travelled to and from Langkawi, with the highest frequency at 67 trips daily, during the previous editions of Lima."
On the possibility of maintenance dredging work near the Kuala Perlis terminal failing to be completed before Lima, Baharin said if that was the case, the consortium would increase the ferry frequency from the Kuala Kedah jetty terminal.
"It will depend on how many ferries can be operated at any given time, since the ferry terminal is only capable of accommodating 800 passengers.
"The consortium is praying that the routes to all Langkawi entrance points will fully recover so that ferry services can return to normal frequency."
Baharin was responding to the Transport Ministry's call to improve ferry services ahead of Lima'23.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke had said he had directed the Marine Department to look into issues surrounding ferry services as there were operational problems that needed to be resolved.
He had said the ministry wanted to ensure there was good and reliable services between Kuala Kedah, Kuala Perlis and Langkawi.
Lima'23 is set to be the largest edition of the event since its inception in 1991. The event will feature more than 600 exhibitors from 30 countries.
On Jan 9, Marine Department northern region director Mohd Hafiz Abdul Majid said the maintenance dredging work at the Kuala Perlis jetty terminal, which was supposed to improve the Kuala Perlis-Langkawi passenger ferry frequency, would be delayed for four months.
He said the project, which was approved last February, was behind schedule as the contractor had requested for an extension until May 20.
He said the department and stakeholders want the project to be completed by April 30.