NEW PASIR GUDANG ROUTE?
Beyond Batam, the operator is also eyeing a new link to Pasir Gudang in Johor, Malaysia.
Johor already has two ferry routes with Singapore – connecting Tanah Merah with the Tanjung Pengelih and Desaru Coast terminals. There is currently no ferry link from Singapore to Pasir Gudang.
“If you look at the connectivity between Singapore and Johor. In the west, we have Tuas. At the centre, we have the Causeway, whereas east of the Causeway, there's no connectivity,” Mr Chua noted.
“But the whole area is so much bigger than the west. So we (want to) offer alternatives to commuters (and) residents by ferry.”
If launched, the new route is expected to take about 45 minutes, compared with a two-hour drive across the Causeway during peak traffic.
Mr Douglas Teh, managing director of the Pasir Gudang Ferry Terminal, noted that the terminal is located 10 minutes from two international ports, Tanjung Langsat and Johor Port.
“We are in a mature industrial area, (with) many multinationals … I think the location of Tanah Merah (ferry terminal) is very ideal. It’s about maybe 10-15 minutes to Changi Airport. So a lot of executives … may not want to brave the traffic going across the Causeway.”
Before giving the go-ahead for new ferry routes, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore says it examines navigational safety and plans for handling emergencies or disruptions.
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