Twenty-one people were injured after the passenger ferry Teluk Bahang collided with the vessel MV Mekar Jaya within Penang Port limits in Malaysia.
The collision happened at about 8.40pm local time on Tuesday 1 September 2026 as the ferry was heading towards the Sultan Abdul Halim Ferry Terminal in Butterworth.
Initial information released by the Penang Port Commission said MV Mekar Jaya was travelling from the Butterworth Deep Water Wharves towards Swettenham Pier Cruise Terminal when the vessels collided.
21 people reported injured
The Penang Fire and Rescue Department said 92 people, including passengers, were involved in the incident. Early reports indicated that six people had suffered severe injuries and were taken to hospital.
However, a subsequent update provided through Malaysian national news agency Bernama said none of the casualties had been admitted to hospital. Eleven people were transported by ambulance to Seberang Jaya Hospital, while seven others who initially intended to travel independently also attended the hospital.
In total, 18 of the 21 people reported injured received outpatient treatment at the hospital's Emergency Department. No other victims had sought treatment at other government health facilities at the time of that update.
Vessel was heading towards Swettenham Pier Cruise Terminal
The incident has a direct connection with Penang's cruise facilities because MV Mekar Jaya was reported to have been travelling towards Swettenham Pier Cruise Terminal when the collision occurred.
Swettenham Pier is Penang's principal cruise terminal and serves visiting international cruise ships at George Town.
The passenger ferry Teluk Bahang, meanwhile, was approaching the Sultan Abdul Halim Ferry Terminal on the mainland side of the Penang Channel.
Some Malaysian reports have described MV Mekar Jaya as an oil or chemical tanker, while the Penang Port Commission's initial notice and Bernama reporting referred to it more generally as a vessel or cargo vessel. Deck7 has therefore avoided making any claim about what cargo, if any, the vessel was carrying at the time of the collision.
Special task force investigating collision
Penang Port Commission chairman Datuk Yeoh Soon Hin subsequently ordered the creation of a special task force to investigate the cause and circumstances of the accident.
The commission said the investigation should be carried out objectively, transparently and professionally, with the findings to be reported publicly.
Authorities are examining the navigation and radar systems used by the vessels and are expected to interview those involved. Malaysian reporting said investigators will consider whether either vessel entered the other's route before the collision.
The ferry operator, Penang Port Sdn Bhd, has also been instructed to review its operational procedures and safety mechanisms, with further measures to be considered once the investigation has established what happened.
Ferry services continued
Despite the collision, normal Penang ferry operations were reported to have continued. The Penang Port Commission said the situation at the terminal was under control and that ferry services had not been disrupted.
The cause of the collision has not yet been established. Deck7 will update this report if the Penang Port Commission or Malaysian authorities publish material findings from the investigation.