Ferry trapped in sandbank earlier continues journey to Langkawi tonight


KUALA PERLIS: A ferry that ran aground after hitting a sandbank while carrying 567 passengers from Kuala Perlis to Langkawi at 2.30pm on Monday (Sept 16), safely continued its trip to Langkawi that evening.

Langkawi Ferry Line Ventures Sdn Bhd General Manager (Captain) Dr Baharin Baharom said the passenger ferry was able to move after being successfully towed by a tugboat and the condition of the ferry was also deemed safe to continue its journey to Langkawi at 9.05pm.

"When the tugboat was trying to tow the ferry it was already high tide and all the passengers were in good condition. No one experienced any shortness of breath. We even gave food and drinks to the passengers," he said in a statement on Monday night.

Bernama had earlier reported that a ferry carrying 567 passengers from Kuala Perlis to Langkawi was trapped and stranded after hitting a sandbar due to strong winds at 0.5 nautical miles from Kuala Perlis on Monday.

READ MORE: Ferry to Langkawi runs aground, three others turn back due to storm

Baharin said the ferry was pushed towards the sandbank by strong winds after about 15 minutes of departure from the Kuala Perlis Jetty.

He said three ferry journeys from Langkawi to Kuala Perlis tonight at 8pm, 8.05pm and 8.30pm continued as usual involving a total of 1,547 passengers.

"Likewise the ferry journeys from Langkawi to Kuala Kedah, Kedah at 7.30pm and 7.35pm this evening which carried 1,300 passengers in total was also successfully moved to Kuala Kedah," he said.

Meanwhile, Kuala Perlis Maritime Zone director Commander (Maritime) Mohd Hashim Mat Zain said officers together with the Perkasa 1240 vessel were mobilised to the scene of the incident to provide assistance and monitor the situation at 5.30pm.

"All passengers are safe and there were no casualties," he said. - Bernama

Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!
   

Next In Nation

Polygamy can arrest decline in national birth rate, suggests Opposition MP
We only want what's ours, says Sanusi on Kedah's claim over Penang
Penang state assembly approves Budget 2025, adjourns
Number of flood victims increases in K'tan, T'ganu, Kedah and Perlis
Ananda Krishnan a key figure in developing Malaysian media, telco and entertainment industries
Negri Sembilan's 2025 Budget among six Bills passed by state assembly
13 Muar pupils suffer food poisoning, school canteen shut down for two weeks
'Kelantan floods worse than 2014's 'bah kuning' disaster' (with picture gallery)
Housing Ministry plans recycling drive-through centres at malls
Seven transmitter stations, 42 internet hubs in Kelantan, Terengganu hit by floods

Others Also Read