Aceh-Penang ferry service

JAKARTA (JP): Malaysian ferry Langkawi II made its first trip on Monday from Langsa, eastern Aceh, to Penang, Malaysia, carrying 171 passengers.

"The operation of the ferry is part of a series of economic cooperations in the Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle," Aceh Governor Syamsuddin Mahmud said at Kuala Langsa port during a ceremony marking the ferry's first trip.

He said the establishment of the Langsa-Penang ferry line would increase trade activities between the two countries, saying, for example, that 50 percent of Penang's pepper demand was supplied by Aceh.

Langkawi II takes about three and a half hours for the 120- mile Langsa-Penang trip.

The ferry, Antara news agency reported, runs on Monday and Thursday with a maximum passenger capacity of 300 people.

The tickets are priced at Rp 180,000 (about US$21) for a one- way trip and Rp 320,000 for round-trip tickets. (02)