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About Penang Port

History

On 11th August 1786, Captain Francis Light, an English trader of the East India Company, boldly took possession of the island and renamed it the Prince of Wales Island. With the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 and the subsequent increase in international trade, Penang garnered attention and was declared a "Free Port" in 1872. The Port of Penang was managed by two public authorities: the Federal Malay States Railway at Prai Wharf and the Penang Harbour Board at Swettenham Pier.
 

In 1894, the late Quah Beng Kee and his brother commenced the first regular ferry service in Penang, operating between Kedah Pier on Penang Island and various landing places in Province Wellesley on the mainland.
 

In December 1924, the Penang Harbour Board took over the ferry services and swiftly implemented facilities for conveying motor vehicles.
 

On 1st January 1956, the Penang Port Commission came into force, established under the Penang Port Commission Ordinance 1955. It took over all the undertakings of the Penang Harbour Board, including the ferry services and the Prai Wharf undertaking of the Malayan Railway Administration.
 

Then, on 1st January 1994, Penang Port Sdn Bhd, a company wholly owned by the Minister of Finance (Incorporated), took over all facilities and services from the Penang Port Commission. Penang Port Sdn Bhd is licensed by the Penang Port Commission to operate, manage, and maintain all port facilities and services.
 

In 2014, Penang Port Sdn Bhd was successfully privatised under Seaport Terminal (Johor) Sdn Bhd.
 

Finally, in 2018, Penang Port Sdn Bhd completed full privatisation and proudly stands as a member of the MMC Group.
 

Location and Accessibility

PENANG PORT: YOUR STRATEGIC GATEWAY TO GLOBAL TRADE

Penang Port Sdn Bhd, the oldest port in Malaysia, holds a prime position within the global shipping network. Situated on the bustling east-west trade route, it connects the vibrant economies of the East with markets in the West. The port offers exceptional connectivity with 13 intra-Asia direct calls and daily direct connections to major Far East destinations. Its strategic location on the Straits of Malacca provides unparalleled access to the emerging markets of the Bay of Bengal, making it a crucial gateway for Northern Malaysia, Southern Thailand, and the Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT). Penang Port's modern facilities and unwavering commitment to efficient operations firmly establish it as a vital maritime hub in Southeast Asia.
 

A Boutique Port in the Pearl of the Orient

Penang Port houses a plethora of services, lending itself well as a multipurpose port that provides unique value towards the growth of industries in Penang. Being situated in Penang is also a major game-changer, as Penang is strategically linked to the Indonesia – Malaysia – Thailand Growth Triangle (IMTGT). The IMT-Growth Triangle promotes private-sector led economic growth, facilitates the development of the sub-region as a whole by addressing complementarities, and comparative advantages of the member countries.

Penang Port also plays a niche role in the handling of conventional cargo – which focuses on Break Bulking, Dry Bulking, and Liquid Bulk Cargo with clear emphasis on Dangerous Goods (DG).

Penang Port’s terminal, the North Butterworth Container Terminal (NBCT) was gazetted as a Free Commercial Zone (FCZ) on 1 February 2021, which enables Penang Port to be the focal point for shipping and transshipment activities.

Penang Port will capitalise on its FCZ status to tap into the Bay of Bengal market by undertaking transshipment activities for containers moving between the Bay of Bengal and the Far-East.

Penang also promotes Seamless Cruise -to-Tourism Access through our leverage at the Swettenham Pier Cruise Terminal – which has emerged as the busiest port of call in Malaysia for cruise.

With only a 200m walk to state capital, George Town, tourist can venture to Malaysia's gastronomic capital for its distinct and ubiquitous street food, unique cultural heritage, and the financial centre of northern Malaysia and the nation's most vital medical tourism hub.

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