21 Injured as Ferry Rams Tanker Near Penang Port in Night Collision
Six passengers remain in severe condition after the Teluk Bahang ferry collided.
A nighttime maritime collision off Penang Port in Malaysia has left 21 people injured, six of them in critical condition. The incident occurred when the Teluk Bahang passenger ferry, carrying 92 people, struck the locally registered tanker MV Mekar Jaya.
The accident took place at 8:40 pm local time as the ferry was traveling toward Sultan Abdul Halim Ferry Terminal. The tanker was simultaneously making its way from Butterworth Deep Water Wharves to Swettenham Pier Cruise Terminal. Authorities received the distress call nearly 80 minutes later, at 9:58 pm.
Fire and Rescue Department teams arrived at the scene approximately one hour after the collision to assist passengers. Of the 92 people on board, 21 required hospital treatment, while the remaining passengers were able to leave once the immediate chaos subsided. Social media footage from passengers showed overturned motorcycles and damaged vehicles strewn across the ferry’s deck.
Collision Details and Emergency Response: Penang Port
Despite the severity of the incident, Penang Port officials confirmed that operations at the ferry terminal remained unaffected.
Datuk Yeoh Soon Hin, Chairman of the Penang Port Commission, announced the formation of a task force to determine the cause of the collision. The investigation will examine whether technical failure or human error played a role. Representatives from the ferry’s operating company will participate in the probe, with findings expected in the coming weeks.
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