Until about 2005, the Penguin Ferry (Call sign 9V5249 and MMSI 563011120) used to take passengers direct from Singapore, specifically, the Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal, to Tioman Island.
The cost of this Penguin ferry was S$150-170 for a return trip and S$92-102 for a one-way trip, depending on the season. Kids traveled at S$100-110 or S$60-70, respectively, again, depending on the season. Infants' rates were S$24 for a round-trip and S$12 for a one-way, regardless of the season.
Needless to say, in spite of the fairly high ticket price, this Penguin ferry service was quite convenient for Tioman travelers departing from Singapore, because it bypassed the need to travel to Mersing first, either by car, or by bus or coach.
In fact, since the Penguin Ferry only took about 3 hours to reach its destination, the ticket cost was money well spent, given the hefty savings in time.
Departure time of the Penguin Ferry from Singapore to Tioman was 8.35 am. From Tioman to Singapore, the departure time was 2.30 pm.
The Singapore-flagged ferry vessel used was originally called "Coastal Cruise" (IMO 9134737) after it was built in 1996, but was later more aptly re-named the Penguin Tioman.
The Penguin Tioman's Gross Tonnage was 255t, its draught was 1.5 meter and its Summer DWT was 50t. Penguin Tioman's total length was 35.0 meters and its beam was 7.0 meters.
Although officially, the Penguin Tioman was a Ro-Ro/Passenger ship, it never really saw any Ro-Ro action during its Tioman service, for obvious reasons. The Penguin Tioman's top speed was 17 knots, its average speed about 16 knots. Penguin Tioman's whereabouts are currently unknown.
Please note that you may still come across websites proclaiming that this Singapore to Tioman Penguin Tioman Ferry service still exists. However, this is no longer the case. Click here to book the ferry to Tioman from Mersing.
This is where you collect the ferry tickets you booked online. The complex also has a great food and drinks section, as well as a decent number of cool shops for some last-minute retail therapy, before hopping onto your ferry. Find out more...
Pulau Tioman offers several Spa and Wellness Centres that you should give a try. You can select the type of treatment you want from this website, as it lists each of Tioman's resorts and hotels that feature Spa therapies. Find out more...
Tying the knot in the not too distant future and looking for an exotic paradise to immerse in newlywed bliss? Take a look at this site. It presents each of Tioman Island's resorts that offer delectable honeymoon packages. Find out more...
*Twitter updates Whilst we spare no effort, due to the nature of sea travel, we're unable to guarantee that we can always send out alerts in time.