New Tawau Ferry Terminal all set for full operations
TAWAU: The new Tawau Ferry Terminal equipped with a host of facilities will be fully operational on December 5 this year.
“The new ferry terminal will operate from 9am and all the agencies involved are already prepared and fully committed,” said Tawau Municipal Council (TMC) personnel Alijus Sipil yesterday during a press conference at the new terminal.
Alijus said the old terminal will only be used for domestic passengers and be closed to passengers from foreign countries by then.
The old Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) terminal is available especially for Sebatik Island residents and they are not allowed to land at any other area, he said.
The new ferry terminal is located about 500 meters from the old one which was built four years ago by the state government with cooperation from a concession company to provide more comfortable service.
The new terminal will house various agencies, among them the Immigration Department, Customs, Port and Harbour, Agriculture Department and police, with basic facilities. The current ferry schedules and arrivals will be maintained with no changes.
Passengers will feel more comfortable compared to the old terminal as the new terminal will be able to cater to up to 700 people at any one time, Alijus said.
Furthermore, he added the ferry landing schedule will eventually be expanded to cater to four ferries at any one time and updated for smoother operation.
Alijus also said that the ferry operators have been notified on the matter beforehand and the date of commencement was set after several meetings with the agencies involved.
Meanwhile, he advised domestic fare boats, especially from Sebatik Island, to adhere to the directive and regulations to avoid any untoward problems.