“I was informed that the bottom parts of the ferries have also decayed. If no one is interested in taking them over, they cannot be kept there forever,” he told reporters in Bukit Mertajam today, Bernama reported.

Chow said two of the iconic ferries might still be salvageable: one is with developer Ideal Property moored off Queensbay Mall, and another that would be turned into a ferry museum based at Tanjung Marina.

He said the Penang Port Commission had received numerous proposals to keep the ferries in service for public transport, but after reviewing the costs, it was not feasible to maintain them for transport use. However, other uses can be considered, he said.

“Additionally, the ferry terminal has been modified to accommodate the new ferry services that are currently operating,” he said.

On Thursday, the PPC, which owns the six double-decker ferry boats, said it intended to dispose of the ferries, after the disused Pulau Kapas sank at the Butterworth jetty on Wednesday.

PPC chairman Yeoh Soon Hin said the commission had decided to dispose of the iconic double-decker ferries due to severe decay and the inability to carry out repairs.

He said the ferry boats, including Pulau Kapas, had been leased in 2021 to several qualified companies for use in tourism. However, the plan to convert Pulau Kapas into a floating restaurant failed, leading to the termination of the lease in February 2023.

The iconic double-decker ferries, which carried motor vehicles and passengers, were withdrawn from service in 2020 after being in operation for six decades. They were replaced by fast launches for passengers, motorcycles and bicycles.