ALOR SETAR, Sept 16 — A ferry carrying 567 passengers ran aground on a sandbank due to strong winds, approximately 0.5 nautical miles from Kuala Perlis, today.
Konsortium Ferry Line Ventures Sdn Bhd human resources and operations manager Baharin Baharom said the ferry departed the Kuala Perlis Passenger Jetty Terminal to Langkawi at 2.30pm.
“The ferry is still aground, and we are working to transfer passengers back to the jetty terminal, but conditions are difficult. The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency is monitoring the situation,” he said when contacted today.
He said the operation to transfer stranded passengers would resume at 8pm, coinciding with high tide.
Meanwhile, he said three ferry trips from the Kuala Kedah Passenger Jetty Terminal to Langkawi today, carrying 679 passengers, had to turn back due to storms off Kuala Kedah.
The affected services were the 1.30pm, 2pm, and 2.30pm trips carrying 120, 149, and 410 passengers, respectively, he added.
Baharin said all passengers have been issued with refunds, and some have had their trips rescheduled.
— Bernama
