Ferry service between Singapore, Desaru Coast appointed

As Malaysia gears up for the reopening of its borders on Apr 1, a new mode of transport will soon be available to travel to and from there. 

According to reports from several media outlets in Malaysia, Desaru Link Ferry Services has been appointed to offer passenger ferry services between Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal and Desaru Coast Ferry Terminal.

The ferry service is a subsidiary of ferry operator Batam Fast Ferry, more commonly known for its transportation services between six terminals in Singapore and Indonesia.

The new sea route is estimated to be 90-min long, similar to the duration taken by land travel without traffic. 

Once in operation, round trips ferrying 150 to 338 passengers are expected to take place twice on Thursdays to Sundays, and once on Mondays to Wednesdays.

Both the service frequencies and ferry capacities will be adjusted based on market conditions and the recovery of the tourism industry. 

Talks of launching a vaccinated travel lane by sea between Singapore and Malaysia were made known in November last year, with Desaru Coast Ferry Terminal proposed as a landing point, in speeches given by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his Malaysian counterpart Ismail Sabri Yaakob at the Istana. 

Exact details of the ferry service’s opening date are yet to be determined, with further plans to connect the Desaru Coast Ferry Terminal to the Riau Islands of Batam and Bintan.