This will soon be a reality when two old Penang ferries are turned into floating restaurants on the waters off Pulau Jerejak.
The restaurants will be operated by a fish farming company with major fish cages at the waters off the former penal island, the Penang Port Commission (PPC) announced today.
The commission said Chuen Shin Aquaculture Sdn Bhd, which has experience in running seafood restaurants, will refurbish the Pulau Kapas and Pulau Payar vessels into restaurants. The company has 8,000 sq m of fish farms on the waters off Jerejak, a state assembly reply has shown.
“The restaurants will give patrons a splendid view of the strait, with a clear view of both the Penang bridges,” PPC chairman Tan Teik Cheng said in a statement today.
He said the Pulau Undan and Pulau Talang Talang ferries will be turned into tourist ferries with restaurants, conference rooms, wedding halls and spaces for shops selling local goods and souvenirs. The two vessels will also offer pleasure cruises, Tan had earlier said.
Tan said the two ferries will be modified by Kantan Jaya Marine Services, which has experience in providing tourist ferries. As both ferries were built in 1975, approval from the marine department is necessary before either can set sail.
A fifth vessel, the Pulau Pinang, will be turned into a museum off the Tanjung City Marina off Weld Quay. The ferry was recently re-floated after it was found half-sunk off the Perai River three weeks ago.
Printhero Merchandise Sdn Bhd, a company with experience in running souvenir shops, has been awarded the rights to turn the vessel into a museum, which will feature a photo gallery, a souvenir shop, a cafe and a photography spot for visitors.
Tan said the three companies appointed to modify the five ferries to their new purpose have been given a lease of 10 years with an option to extend for another five years. All three companies have given RM200,000 each in guarantees (wang jaminan) to PPC.
There were originally six old ferries in the fleet, with one of them given to the state government. The state government ferry is under the care of Penang tourism and creative economy committee chairman Yeoh Soon Hin, who has yet to reveal what will be done to the ferry.
The old ferries were retired before the vehicular-cum-passenger ferry service was ended earlier this year to make way for fast boats.