A couple’s trip to Pulau Ubin took an unexpected turn when the husband, surnamed Xie, refused to pay S$5 per person — S$1 more than the usual fare — for their return boat ride, eventually costing them S$48 to charter a private boat back to the mainland.
The incident occurred on August 22 when Xie, 52, and his wife arrived at Pulau Ubin at around 3pm and planned to return to Changi Point Ferry Terminal by 6pm. According to Xie, after waiting for about 30 minutes, a total of 10 passengers had gathered. The boatman initially asked the last four passengers to pay S$5 each, later changing the fare to S$5 per person for all 10, reported Shin Min Daily News.
Xie said he and his wife found this unreasonable, as they had paid S$4 each to reach the island. When they refused, the boatman reportedly raised the fare for the remaining eight passengers to S$6 each, aiming to reach his usual earnings of S$48 per trip, which is the amount a 12-passenger trip at S$4 each would generate.
Stranded for Over an Hour
Choosing to wait for the next boat, the couple remained stranded for more than an hour as no other boat arrived. Some islanders suggested they could ride with a security officer leaving the island at 7pm, but the boat that came for the officer was operated by the same boatman and only allowed the officer on board.
Eventually, the couple contacted NParks, who advised them to reach out to another operator. They finally found an alternative boatman and had to pay S$48 to charter the boat back.
Boatman Explains Fare Policy
The first boatman, Jie Guoyuan, defended his actions, stating that he needed to collect S$48 per trip to make the business viable. He explained that with only 10 passengers that evening, each needed to pay an extra S$1. “I explained it was late and unlikely more passengers would show up, but they didn’t listen,” Jie said. He added that he ensures the price is agreed upon before departure and denied any extortion.
Xie, however, criticised the lack of transparent fares and fixed schedules. Passengers can only pay cash, with no PayNow option, making the service inconvenient.
NParks website states that fares are S$4 per person, with an additional S$2 per person for bicycles. Bumboats depart only when there are 12 passengers, and passengers are advised to confirm fares with operators or make prior arrangements for late departures.
This incident highlights the need for clearer fare communication and perhaps a more structured boat schedule for Pulau Ubin visitors.