Faster Immigration Clearance at Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal After Revamp

More dining options, outdoor play space for families added as part of $20m upgrade

- Elisha Tushara

On average, it used to take 20 minutes for ferry passengers to get to the departure gate at Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal.

Now, it takes only about five minutes, after a $20 million revamp that saw eight more immigration clearance lanes added for departing travellers.

Unveiled on March 22 by Minister of State for Transport and Law Murali Pillai, the one-year overhaul boosts efficiency with self-check-in kiosks, automated bag drops and passport-less immigration lanes.

The Singapore Cruise Centre (SCC), which manages the terminal, expects up to 70 per cent of ferry passengers to perform self-check-ins at 15 new kiosks, which will be fully deployed by end-2025.

While passengers can still buy tickets, collect boarding passes and check in at revamped ferry operator counters, those who pre-book can skip the queues.

Similar to airport procedures, travellers can scan their passports at the kiosks and print both boarding passes and luggage tags.

They can then drop their bags at six bag drop counters, up from four before the renovation.

Checked-in bags are put through X-ray scanners via a conveyor belt, before baggage porters transfer them into cages and load them onto the ferries.

A future phase will allow ticket purchases at kiosks.