Swettenham Pier

Last updated
Swettenham Pier
Swettenham Pier in George Town, Penang 2023.jpg
Carries Cruise vessels
Spans Penang Strait
Locale Seal of George Town.svg George Town, Penang
OwnerPenang Port Commission
Maintained byPenang Port Commission
Characteristics
ConstructionCoude, Sons & Matthews
Total length400 m (1,300 ft) [1]
History
Opening date1904;120 years ago (1904)
Coordinates 5°25′08″N100°20′47″E / 5.418933°N 100.346329°E / 5.418933; 100.346329
Location map of George Town 2023 (city centre shown).svg
Red pog.svg
Swettenham Pier
Location within George Town, Penang
TypeCultural
Criteriaii, iii, iv
Designated2008 (32nd session)
Reference no. 1223
Region Asia-Pacific

Swettenham Pier is a pier within the city of George Town in Penang, Malaysia. Established in 1904, it is the busiest port-of-call in Malaysia for cruise shipping. [2] [3] The pier plays a vital role as a major entry point for tourists into Penang, aside from the Penang International Airport and land connections. [4] [5]

Contents

Other than cruise shipping, Swettenham Pier, located at Weld Quay, has hosted warships as well. Navy ships from several nations, including Singapore, Thailand and the United States, have berthed at the pier in the past. [6] [7] [8]

History

Japanese submarine I-10 at Swettenham Pier in 1942 Japanese submarine I-10 at Penang port in 1942.jpg
Japanese submarine I-10 at Swettenham Pier in 1942
Swettenham Pier Cruise Terminal building, completed in 2009, contains immigration clearance facilities. Penang Malaysia Swettenham-Pier-01.jpg
Swettenham Pier Cruise Terminal building, completed in 2009, contains immigration clearance facilities.
SuperStar Libra cruise ship at Swettenham Pier Swettenham Pier Cruise Terminal 2.jpg
SuperStar Libra cruise ship at Swettenham Pier

Towards the end of the 19th century, as maritime traffic into the Port of Penang continued to increase and railway lines in the Malay Peninsula were being built, the expansion of the Port of Penang became crucial. [2] The construction of Swettenham Pier, undertaken by engineers Coude, Sons and Matthews, commenced in 1901. Upon its completion in 1904, the T-shaped pier provided 600 ft (180 m) of wharfage.

Originally, the pier was known as the 'Iron Pier'. It was subsequently renamed Swettenham Pier, in honour of Frank Swettenham, the then Governor of the Straits Settlements.

Swettenham Pier's initial capacity proved insufficient. In 1911, the pier was extended by 345 ft (105 m) to the north and 255 ft (78 m) to the south, bringing the overall length of the pier to 1,200 ft (370 m). [2]

Between 1942 and 1944, at the height of World War II, the pier was used as a submarine base by the Japanese, German and Italian navies. [9] [10]

Up until the late 1960s, steamers and other cargo vessels with a draft of up to 27 ft (8.2 m) used to dock at Swettenham Pier. The pier's heyday was abruptly ended, however, with the revocation of George Town's free port status by the Malaysian federal government in 1969. [11] [12] [13] [14]

In the early 2000s, Swettenham Pier was upgraded into a cruise shipping terminal. The Swettenham Pier Cruise Terminal, with a new three-storey building and an aerobridge, was completed in 2009. [1] [15] George Town's cruise tourism industry has been booming ever since, with Swettenham Pier soon attracting cruise ships of increasing size, such as the RMS Queen Mary 2 . [16] In 2017, Swettenham Pier overtook Port Klang as the busiest cruise shipping harbour in Malaysia. [3]

Plans have also been drawn up for the expansion of Swettenham Pier in the near future to accommodate larger cruise ships. [17] [18]

Operational statistics

YearTotal international arrivals [19] [20]
2014110,715
2015187,494
2016213,566
2017358,529
2018341,138
2019409,943
202085,691
20210
2022439,012
2023573,178

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Penang</span> State in Malaysia

Penang is a Malaysian state located on the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia along the Strait of Malacca. It has two parts: Penang Island, where the capital city, George Town, is located, and Seberang Perai on the Malay Peninsula. These two halves are physically connected by the Penang Bridge and the Second Penang Bridge. The state shares borders with Kedah to the north and east, and Perak to the south.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Town, Penang</span> Capital city of the Malaysian state of Penang

George Town is the capital of the Malaysian state of Penang. It is the core city of the George Town Conurbation, Malaysia's second largest metropolitan area with a population of 2.84 million and the second largest metropolitan economy in the country. The city proper spans an area of 306 km2 (118 sq mi) encompassing Penang Island and surrounding islets, and had a population of 794,313 as of 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Port Klang</span> Town in Selangor, Malaysia

Port Klang is a town and the main gateway by sea into Malaysia. Known during colonial times as Port Swettenham but renamed Port Klang in July 1972, it is the largest port in the country. It is located about 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) southwest of the town of Klang, and 38 kilometres (24 mi) southwest of Kuala Lumpur.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Butterworth, Seberang Perai</span> City centre of Seberang Perai in Penang, Malaysia

Butterworth is the city centre of Seberang Perai in the Malaysian state of Penang. It lies about 3 km (1.9 mi) east of George Town, the capital city of Penang, across the Penang Strait. As of 2020, Butterworth had a total population of 80,378 residents.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2006 in Malaysia</span>

This article lists important figures and events in Malaysian public affairs during the year 2006, together with births and deaths of notable Malaysians.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Perai</span> Suburb of Seberang Perai in Penang, Malaysia

Perai is a suburb of Seberang Perai in the Malaysian state of Penang. It lies at the southern bank of the Perai River and borders Butterworth to the north.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Penang Strait</span> Strait in Malaysia

The Penang Strait is an 11 kilometre-wide strait that separates Penang Island from mainland Malay Peninsula. Penang Island is to the west of the channel, while Seberang Perai, the mainland half of the State of Penang, is to the east. The northern and southern ends of the channel join the Strait of Malacca, one of the world's busiest maritime routes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transport in Penang</span>

As the core of Malaysia's second largest conurbation, Penang has a relatively developed transport infrastructure. The state is well-connected by land, air and sea. The Penang International Airport is Malaysia's third busiest by passenger traffic and the busiest by export volume, while the Port of Penang is the main transshipment hub of northern Malaysia. The island city of George Town is physically connected to mainland Seberang Perai by two road bridges and the oldest ferry service in the country. The North–South Expressway and Keretapi Tanah Melayu's west coast line – two major arteries along western Peninsular Malaysia – run through the state.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2008 in Malaysia</span>

This article lists important figures and events in Malaysian public affairs during the year 2008, together with the deaths of notable Malaysians.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greater Penang Conurbation</span> Metropolitan area in northwestern Malaysia

The Greater Penang Conurbation, also known as the George Town Conurbation, is the urban area within and surrounding the Malaysian state of Penang, including parts of neighbouring Kedah and Perak. It is the second largest conurbation in Malaysia, with a population of over 2.84 million as of 2020. The conurbation is also the second largest metropolitan economy in the country after the Klang Valley, with an estimated gross domestic product (GDP) of over US$30 billion in 2020.

Glenn Marine Group is a Singapore-based supplier of maritime services including naval logistics and the operation of shore-base support including cruise terminals and port-operations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Town Central Business District, Penang</span> Central business district of George Town in Penang, Malaysia

The George Town Central Business District (CBD) is the financial and political centre of the city of George Town, the capital of the Malaysian state of Penang. The financial district, which was first envisioned by the Penang Island City Council's Local Plan 2030, lies entirely within the city centre, and is home to much of the city's banking and financial services. The term CBD is often used interchangeably with Downtown George Town, encompassing both the historic core and modern sections of the city centre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Weld Quay, George Town</span> Road of George Town within the Malaysian state of Penang

Weld Quay is a coastal road in the city of George Town within the Malaysian state of Penang. One of a handful of places worldwide that was named after a Prime Minister of New Zealand, the road runs along the city's eastern shoreline, connecting the Tun Dr. Lim Chong Eu Expressway with Light Street and Beach Street.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Padang Kota</span> State constituency in Penang, Malaysia

Padang Kota is a state constituency in Penang, Malaysia, that has been represented in the Penang State Legislative Assembly since 1974. It covers George Town's historic city centre, including its old administrative core and the central business district (CBD) at Beach Street.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of George Town, Penang</span> Background of the city of George Town, Penang

George Town, the capital city of the state of Penang, is the second largest city in Malaysia and the economic centre of the country's northern region. The history of George Town began with its establishment by Captain Francis Light of the British East India Company in 1786. Founded as a free port, George Town became the first British settlement in Southeast Asia and prospered in the 19th century as one of the vital British entrepôts within the region. It briefly became the capital of the Straits Settlements, a British crown colony which also consisted of Singapore and Malacca.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">M Mall O2O</span> Shopping mall in George Town, Penang, Malaysia

M Mall O2O is a shopping mall in George Town, Penang, Malaysia. Opened in 2015, it forms part of the Penang Times Square at Dato Keramat Road.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Port of Penang</span> Port in the Malaysian state of Penang

The Port of Penang is a deepwater seaport within the Malaysian state of Penang. It consists of terminals along the Penang Strait, including five in Seberang Perai and one in George Town. The Port of Penang was the third busiest harbour in Malaysia in terms of cargo as of 2017, handling 1.52 million TEUs of cargo, as well as the busiest port-of-call within the country for cruise shipping.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ayer Rajah, Penang</span> Neighbourhood of George Town in Penang, Malaysia

Ayer Rajah is a residential neighbourhood within the downtown core of George Town in the Malaysian state of Penang. This leafy, affluent neighbourhood, situated adjacent to the Penang Botanic Gardens, mostly consists of landed properties such as bungalows and semi-detached houses, surrounded by tree-lined avenues.

<i>Tranquility</i> (yacht)

Draak, previously known as Tranquility and Equanimity, is a 91.50 m (300.2 ft) superyacht launched at the Oceanco yard in Alblasserdam, with Oceanco responsible for the exterior design, while Winch Design worked on the interior. The yacht was allegedly purchased by Malaysian financier Jho Low using money stolen from the Malaysian sovereign wealth fund 1MDB. It was seized by the Malaysian authorities in 2018, judicially sold to the Genting Group in early 2019, and renamed Tranquility. It was then sold to Gabe Newell in September 2023, and renamed Draak.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Central George Town, Penang</span> City centre of George Town in Penang, Malaysia

Central George Town is the city centre of George Town, the capital of the Malaysian state of Penang. It corresponds to the eponymous subdivision of George Town, which is mostly identical to the original city limits established when George Town was granted city status in 1957.

References

  1. 1 2 "Malaysia: A Preferred Cruise Destination" (PDF). Tourism Malaysia.
  2. 1 2 3 Langdon, Marcus (2014). George Town's Historic Commercial and Civic Precincts. Penang: George Town World Heritage Incorporated.
  3. 1 2 "Swettenham Pier surpasses Port Klang as top port of call for cruise ships". www.thesundaily.my. Retrieved 2017-12-21.
  4. "Penang poised to register record year in tourism numbers". www.thesundaily.my. Retrieved 2017-12-21.
  5. Rosalind Chua, Richard Ho, Ong Wooi Leng (April 2010). "Taking tourism to the next level". Penang Monthly. Retrieved 2017-12-21.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  6. "Newspaper Article - S'pore gunboats call at Penang". eresources.nlb.gov.sg. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
  7. II, Administrator. "Royal Thai Navy's Visit to Penang". www.visitpenang.gov.my. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
  8. "US Navy ship calls at Penang - Community | The Star Online". www.thestar.com.my. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
  9. "World War II: Yanagi Missions -- Japan's Underwater Convoys | HistoryNet". www.historynet.com. 12 June 2006. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  10. Borsa, Arnaldo. "Italian Royal Navy in World War Two: Italian surface units in Far East (archived)". www.icsm.it. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  11. Daniel Goh, P. S. (2014). "Between History and Heritage: Post-Colonialism, Globalisation, and the Remaking of Malacca, Penang and Singapore" (PDF). Trans-Regional and -National Studies of Southeast Asia. 2.
  12. Christie, Clive (1998). A Modern History of Southeast Asia: Decolonization, Nationalism and Separatism. I.B.Tauris. ISBN   978-1-86064-354-5.
  13. Evelyn Teh (July 2016). "Where the Sea Meets the City is Where the World Meets Penang". Penang Monthly. Retrieved 2017-11-30.
  14. "The man behind Penang's economic transformation". The Star . Retrieved 2017-11-30.
  15. "Swettenham Pier Cruise Terminal". Port of Penang.
  16. Filmer, Andrea (1 October 2015). "Is Penang's tourism on the right track?". Penang Monthly. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
  17. Opalyn Mok (2017-05-05). "Royal Caribbean mulls Penang as home port after pier expansion". Malay Mail. Retrieved 2017-05-27.
  18. "More voyages to Penang this year - Community | The Star Online". www.thestar.com.my. Retrieved 2017-05-27.
  19. Ong, K. H. (29 May 2024). "Over 7 million tourists stayed overnight in Penang hotels last year, says Wong" (PDF). Buletin Mutiara. Retrieved 5 Dec 2024 via Port of Penang.
  20. "Ketibaan Kapal Kruis,Langkawi Feri Pulau Payar dan Ketibaan Penumpang di Swettenham Pier Cruise - MAMPU". archive.data.gov.my (in Malay). Retrieved 2024-12-05.