ALOR SETAR: Ferry operations at the Kuala Kedah Passenger Terminal will be temporarily suspended until tomorrow due to warnings of strong winds and rough seas in the northern Strait of Malacca.
Konsortium Ferrylines Ventures Sdn Bhd general manager Capt Dr Baharin Baharom, said the disruption since Tuesday has affected a total of 12,532 passengers.
“Additional ferries will be deployed to the maximum extent through the Kuala Perlis Passenger Terminal, depending on the terminal’s capacity to handle the number of ferries at any given time, as approved by the Malaysian Maritime Department.
“During the temporary closure of the Kuala Kedah Passenger Terminal, passengers are advised to reroute via the Kuala Perlis Passenger Terminal until weather conditions improve,” he said in a statement yesterday, reported Bernama.
Earlier, it was reported that 10 ferry services on the Langkawi-Kuala Kedah-Langkawi route had to be cancelled due to strong winds and high waves in the Kuala Kedah waters yesterday.
The ferry operations for this route were cancelled for the third consecutive day due to winds blowing at speeds of 40kph to 50kph per hour and 3.5m-high waves.
“Today’s ferry operations had to be cancelled as it could jeopardise the safety of passengers and crew.
“The 8.30am ferry from Langkawi to Kuala Kedah with 589 passengers was also forced to turn back.
“Five ferries from Langkawi to Kuala Kedah were cancelled, affecting 2,472 passengers involving ferry services scheduled at 8.30am, 10.30am, 12 noon, 1.30pm and 2.30pm,” Baharin said.
For the Kuala Kedah to Langkawi route, Baharin said that five ferries involving 1,041 passengers were also cancelled involving ferry services scheduled at 10am, 11.30am, 1.30pm, 3pm and 4.30pm.
Baharin added that affected passengers can either request a refund or reschedule their trips through the consortium.
He noted that passengers suffering delays of four to eight hours will receive an insurance claim of RM50 while those delayed for more than eight hours could claim RM200.
Additionally, he said compensation for medical expenses due to accidents is capped at RM1,000, loss of luggage up to RM200, death or permanent disability due to accidents up to RM30,000 and burial expenses at RM500.
He said the insurance claims can be submitted with claim details and supporting documents to ANcare@agentnow.com.my or by contacting officers Adeline (012-410 9614), Go (016-454 0128), Afa (013-675 4046), or 04-227 9999.
