Yinson plans electric ferry service linking Langkawi and Kuala Perlis
The project involves two vessels with capacity for 100 passengers each, with sea trials scheduled for January and full deployment in May.
A planned electric ferry link between Langkawi and Kuala Perlis moved forward with the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Yinson Holdings Bhd’s marineEV business and Langkawi Port Sdn Bhd (LPSB). The service will use two vessels, each able to carry 100 passengers.
Sea trials are due to start in January, followed by full deployment in May to coincide with the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (Lima). Before implementation, the partners must resolve commercial and regulatory matters as well as operational and technical requirements.
Yinson GreenTech (YGT), which houses marineEV, will charter the vessels to the project. Operations will be handled by LPSB, the operator of Langkawi’s ferry terminal, while Tenaga Nasional Bhd will develop infrastructure to supply power and charge the ferries.
LPSB general manager Muhd Nasir Abdul Aziz said six trips a day are planned. Fares remain unannounced, although he expects premium pricing. Yinson chief of staff Liaw Thong Jung said the service would supplement existing ferry operators and increase trips between the two destinations.
According to Liaw, fast chargers would fully recharge each vessel in an hour. He said internal funds would finance the project but gave no investment figure. He also said maintenance costs for electric ferries would be lower than for vessels using internal combustion engines.
