GEORGE TOWN: The Penang Ferry Floating Museum is back afloat, with ongoing restoration work to ensure its stability and enable it to be fully operational soon.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow shared his joy that it was back afloat.
"Glad to see our iconic ferry, currently being transformed into a floating museum, back afloat after it tilted due to the high tide.
"I hope to see the Penang Ferry Floating Museum open to the public soon," he shared in a post on his official Facebook page on Saturday (Oct 19).
The ferry tilted due to high tide on Friday (Oct 18) however, efforts were made to keep it afloat.
One of Penang's iconic ferries, which began to list this past week, is now out of danger.
The 'Pulau Pinang' ferry, which is supposed to be transformed into the Penang Ferry Museum, was first partially tilted at the Swettenham Pier Cruise Terminal on Oct 6.
It was reported that inflatable balloons will be used to right the ferry that began listing earlier this month before any new leaks are identified and patched.
The ferry began listing at the Swettenham Pier Cruise Terminal after being towed from the Bagan Dalam Slipway, where it had undergone repair and renovation works from July 2021.
Penang Port Commission chairman Datuk Yeoh Soon Hin said Printhero Merchandise Sdn Bhd, which leased the vessel to turn it into a floating museum, has been carrying out remedial works on the ferry since Oct 7.
He said the work could be done only during low tide to prevent the vessel from leaking again. The ferry was righted on Oct 15.
However, before the contractor could conduct a thorough check and seal any openings, the vessel started listing again and seawater re-entered the engine compartment.
Yeoh said the Penang Port Commission would constantly monitor the ferry's state and re-double its efforts to ensure it is successfully realised as a floating museum.
