Kudat-Palawan ferry journey to take six hours
KOTA KINABALU: The proposed Roll-On-Roll-Off (RoRo) ferry service connecting Kudat and Palawan province, Philippines is expected to commence in February next year.
A Manila-based company, Archipelago Philippines Ferries Corporation (APFC), will be operating the RoRo ferry service daily between Kudat and Buliluyan, a village in the town of Bataraza, Palawan.
Making the joint announcement were Minister of Special Tasks, Datuk Seri Panglima Teo Chee Kang, and Palawan Governor, Jose Ch Alvarez, at a press conference following a discussion held yesterday.
Teo said, the catamaran RoRo vessel, named FastCat, has a capacity to carry 275 passengers and 35 vehicles or 12 lorries. The brand new vessel is designed in Australia and built in China.
“The voyage will take six hours from Kudat to Buliluyan,” he said.
For the moment, Teo said, the RoRo ferry service would begin with passengers and nonmotorized vehicles like bicycles first. This is due to issues with left-hand drive vehicles in the Philippines and right-hand drive vehicles here in Sabah, which required clearance from the relevant authorities on both sides before motorized vehicles could enter Kudat or Palawan, he explained.
“When the time comes, we hope to iron out these issues with regard to motorized vehicles. I think it will not be long for us to realize our dream where you can drive from Kuching to Kota Kinabalu, Kudat, Palawan and even to Manila in the near future as all the islands are linked by RoRo in the Philippines,” Teo said.
Teo, who is also Tanjong Kapor assemblyman, said the sea connection would boost tourist arrivals and tap into the potential of both areas. In fact, he said, tourists could travel to see the Underground River, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, near Puerto Princessa, Palawan, to Mount Kinabalu in Sabah and Mulu Cave in Sarawak in a single trip.
“In one single trip, tourists can visit three World Heritage Sites in the region. That is one of the selling points,” he revealed.
Additionally, Teo said, Sabah and Palawan could also supplement each other in bilateral trade to arrive at a win-win situation.
He said, the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Sabah would be able to import raw materials from Palawan, whereas people from the Philippines province might purchase vegetables, hardware and construction materials from our State.
He said, the RoRo ferry service was also in line with the policy set by ASEAN to have the countries work and prosper together.
Teo added that another operator could be added depending on future demands.
“In five years’ time, we may need another operator if the volume of passengers has increased to the extent. We are open to it,” he said.