ASEAN Ports Association Malaysia (MAPA)

New attraction: Star Pisces, seen docked at the Penang International Cruise Terminal at Swettenham Pier, has made Penang its home base.

AFTER much anticipation, the Star Cruise Pisces has arrived in Penang.

The 177m cruise liner docked at the Penang International Cruise Terminal at Swettenham Pier, that is set to serve as the vessel’s home port, on Wednesday.

Penang Port Commission (PPC) chairman Tan Cheng Liang said the cruise ship had organised a three-day “familiarisation” event on board to introduce the Pisces to its new home.

“This event is the run-up to Pisces embarking on its scheduled cruises which will start after these three days.

“Starting Wednesday, it was opened up to invited guests, tour clients and agents, PPC top officials, government officers as well as related industry players so everyone could get a feel of the vessel,” Tan told reporters after handing over Chinese New Year goodies to children at The Salvation Army Penang Children’s Home on Logan Road on Thursday.

She added that the ship had a 2,200-passenger and 800-crew capacity.

She added that each guest who participated in the familiarisation event experienced a one-night stay on board and had free access to all the ship’s facilities and activities which included line dancing and a variety of sports.

Tan said some 3,000 guests from all over the country’s northern region, and some from as far as Thailand, had signed up for the event.

By ANDREA FILMER

Photo by K.E. OOI

Penang Port Commission (PPC) chairman Tan Cheng Liang (left) leading Bangladesh Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan on a visit to the Penang International Cruise Terminal at the Swettenham Pier.

PENANG and Bangladesh Chittagong ports are currently in discussions to become sister ports in an effort to enhance co-operation between the two harbours.

Penang Port Commission (PPC) chairman Tan Cheng Liang said both parties had discussed the proposal and the commission hoped that a memorandum of understanding could be inked soon.

She said the move was an initiative to foster a closer relationship among ports elsewhere.

She said this in her speech during a visit from Bangladesh Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan to the Swettenham Pier and North Butterworth Container Terminal yesterday.

Shahjahan said he welcomed the sister port suggestion to enhance the relationship between the both states.

“Bangladesh is a developing country and the purpose of the visit is to have a greater understanding in running a modern port. Based on the knowledge, we hope to develop our own maritime sector, especially our two main seaports,” he said.

Chittagong is the bigger of Bangladesh’s two main seaports, the other is Mongla port.

Speaking to reporters during a tour of Penang International Cruise Terminal at Swettenham Pier, Tan said a sister port agreement with Chittagong would allow both parties to have a better understanding with each other.

“Aside from increasing trade between the two ports, a sister port relationship could also give us a boost in pooling together our experience and data resources, human resource training and would enhance our bilateral relationship,” she said.

Penang has previously signed a sister port pact with the Siam seaport in Thailand while the Penang port will be Chittagong’s first sister port if an agreement is signed.

By:  The Star Online

THE delayed RM55.4mil Port Swettenham expansion project will be completed in September, says Penang Port Commission (PPC) chairman Tan Cheng Liang.

She says PPC is managing the project, which is 86% completed.

“The main building, now 99% completed, will accommodate shops, a Customs inspection and quarantine centre, and sufficient space for 40 taxis and five buses to pick up passengers.

“After that, the main contractor (of the project) will have to issue a two-year warranty for the entire project,” she told a press conference yesterday.

Tan Cheng Liang with an artist’s impression of the extended Port Swettenham pier.

The expansion, to enable international cruise liners with over 3,000 passengers to berth at Port Swettenham, was originally scheduled for completion by November 2007, 18 months after it kicked off in May 2006.

Due to technical problems related to design and finance faced by the main contractor, PPC extended the deadline to late last year.

“Since they were still not able to meet the extended deadline, PPC has decided to manage the project jointly with the main contractor.

“This will allow PPC to deal directly with the sub-contractors. We will use some new sub-contractors to complete the more specialised aspects of the expansion,” she said.

Tan adds that another option would be to terminate the main contractor and re-tender the whole project.

“This would take time and cost the Federal Government a further RM21mil.

“The approach that we are taking offers the best solution as it ensures the port redevelopment will be ready soon to help boost the local tourism industry,” she said.

By DAVID TAN