GEORGE TOWN, Aug 7 — Lifestyle property developer, Eastern & Oriental Bhd (E&O), today launched its first private charter water limousine service between the marina at Straits Quay and the pier of the E&O Hotel.

Group Corporate Strategy Director Lyn Chai said the service, which would likely start next month, would bring new experience to tourists in seeing Penang island across the Straits of Melaka and the Andaman Sea.

“The E&O is not in water transport business but the water limousine is a pilot project linking the two seafront properties—E&O Hotel and Straits Quay,” she told reporters after launching the “Lady Martina” water limousine.

The event was officiated by the State Local Government and Traffic Management Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow.

Lyn said the service is expected to begin next month, running between 11.30 am and 6.30 pm on weekdays and 11.30 am to 7.30 pm on weekends, with a 20-minute journey time.

She said that since it was E&O’s pilot project, the service was restricted to hotel guests and patrons of Straits Quay at RM10 per return ticket, while shoppers are eligible to buy up to two tickets at RM10 each with a single receipt worth RM50.

Asked on the possibility of E&O looking to venture into water transport business, Lyn said: “No...the idea of water limousine is to support E&O as the luxury lifestyle developer.

She, however, said E&O was willing to share its Straits Quay pier with interested parties who are keen to tap on the water transport business in Penang to spur the use of water transport as an alternative way of travelling.

Lyn said the E&O invested about RM18 million in the pilot project, of which RM1.1 million was to build the pier, RM16 million for dredging works at the Straits Quay Marina and the “Lady Martina” cruise ferry costing about RM900,000.

She said about RM500,000 was needed yearly to operate “Lady Martina” including maintenance.

“Lady Martina”, named after Martina Rozells, the wife of Sir Francis Light, is a 15-metre fibreglass craft to accommodate up to 40 passengers with indoor and outdoor seating.

Powered by Twin Hyundai Seasall D150P diesel engine, it could travel at a top speed of 12 knots. It was custom-built by Sea Explorer at its Melaka boatyard.

Meanwhile, Chow said the pilot project by E&O could encourage public and private companies to look into water transport and help develop alternative transportation options in Penang.

He said the state government would facilitate private and public operators who are keen to take up the initiatives to complement each other to boost the tourism industry.

Chow hoped the Northern Corridor Implementation Authority (NCIA) would look into the water taxi idea for the water assets to be utilised as an alternative transportation option on the island and across the channel on the mainland.

Water taxi was outlined in the Penang state transport masterplan strategy 2013 and NCIA plans to improve transportation system in Penang and reduce traffic congestion caused by the growing transport demands. – Bernama