SEBUYAU, April 16: An additional ferry with 32-vehicle capacity has commenced operation on April 14, bringing to three the number of ferries serving the people at Sebuyau Triso Ferry Pier.
Assistant Minister of Coastal Road Datuk Julaihi Narawi emphasised that the addition of the third ferry would reduce the waiting time during the peak period, especially during weekends, festive seasons and school holidays from the normal 4 1/2 hours to two hours.
He announced this when officiating at the ‘Ferry Operation Safety Briefing’ together with the local community at Sebuyau Development Hall before making a site visit to the pier today.
“Motorists who take the ferry service throughout Sarawak are advised to always follow the safety regulations and give cooperation by not overtaking queue as well as follow ferry crew instructions, especially when vehicles enter and exit a ferry,” he said in a media release by the Public Works Department (PWD) Sarawak.
He also gave a reminder that only drivers were allowed to be inside the vehicle with the window fully opened, while passengers were not allowed to stay in the vehicle when the ferry departed and cruising.
“While on the ferry, vehicle engines should be turned off and the brakes are engaged securely. Motorists and users are advised to always be aware of the location of emergency aids such as safety jackets and buoys,” he said.
Julaihi, who is also the Sebuyau assemblyman, also called on fishermen in Sebuyau and Maludam areas not to install fishing nets along and near ferry routes for fear of interfering with ferry operations.
The ferry operations in Sebuyau Triso Ferry Pier is on the Sarawak coastal road linking Sebuyau in Samarahan and Triso-Maludam-Pusa in Betong division.
The Sebuyau Triso ferry service is getting busier after the completion of two bridges in Samarahan, division namely the Batang Sadong Bridge in Kampung Sungai Buloh, which has been used since December 2016, and the Samarahan Bridge in July 2018.
According to statistics from PWD Sarawak, vehicles using the ferry service had increased in the fourth quarter of 2018 after the completion of Samarahan Bridge last year.
A total of 31,331 vehicles were recorded in October 2018 and this increased to 33,427 the following month and to 43,933 vehicles in December.
The operating hours of the Sebuyau/Triso Muara Batang Lupar ferry service are as follows; first ferry 6am–8pm, second ferry 4pm–midnight and third ferry 8am–10pm. — DayakDaily
