BUTTERWORTH: The iconic Penang ferry, Pulau Kapas, which sank at 3am on Wednesday (July 24) will be scrapped if it can't be salvaged.
The Penang Port Commission (PPC) and the Fire and Rescue Department are working on the salvage operations and to ensure there is no oil spill.
The ferry, which was already rotting at its hull, began tilting to the side at 3am due to strong winds.
PPC chairman Datuk Yeoh Soon Hin said there are plans to dispose of the ferry which was docked at the Pengkalan Sultan Abdul Halim terminal since 2020.
"PPC took immediate steps by adding more mooring lines and installed an oil boom to contain any oil spill," said Yeoh in a statement on Wednesday.
Yeoh said plans to lease Pulau Kapas and other ferries to private companies for tourism activities fell through due to non-compliance with the lease agreement.
He added the high cost and lack of space to dock the ferries has prompted PPC to look into scrapping them.
