No disruption to S’kan-Zambo ferry service during Christmas
KOTA KINABALU: Filipinos intending to spend the Yuletide season with their loved ones and those going back for Christmas family reunions cum holiday have been assured of no interruptions should they decide to return home via the weekly Sandakan-Zamboanga ferry service.
Standard Marine Agencies Sdn Bhd, the appointed local-based company operating the ferry service, has given assurance that the scheduled voyages will not be disrupted from now on, especially during the Christmas and New Year holiday seasons.
“Our MV Lady Mary Joy 2 passenger and cargo vessel have just completed dry-dock inspection and repair works recently. The vessel is now in tip-top condition and we promise that every voyage will be navigationally problem free,” its managing director, Chow Yang Ann, said.
He said Lady Mary Joy 2 departs Zamboanga Port every Monday afternoon and arrives at Sandakan at noon the following day and then sails back to its original port in the evening of the same day.
Although the owner of the Philippines-based shipping line had not come up with a Christmas promotional fare, he said, the company will not increase its current one way ferry tickets priced at RM283 (non air-conditioned), RM303 (air-conditioned), and RM323 (cabin).
When purchasing tickets, Chow said, passengers are advised to bring along with them their respective valid passports or other valid travel documents issued by the relevant authorities.
“We will not issue tickets to persons who do not have the necessary travel documents, and Malaysian passengers are required to purchase return tickets,” he stressed.
He also said that it is advisable for passengers to purchase their tickets 1-2 days before the departure date to avoid disappointments and for obvious reasons.
Chow said the number of passengers per voyage is expected to double or triple during the months of December and January, and it is for this reason that they have drawn strategies to ensure that all passengers will not face unnecessary inconveniences before and during the voyages.
“My company will also continue to accommodate deportation of Filipino deportees as and when there is a request from the relevant authorities,” he stressed.