The Queen Mary 2 liner makes

maiden call at Penang

2010/02/05

GEORGE TOWN: The Queen Mary 2 (QM2) made a historic stopover at the newly-opened RM70 million International Cruise Terminal at Port Swettenham here yesterday. The trans-atlantic luxury ocean liner and flagship of the Cunard lines, which is the height of a 23-storey building, made the maiden call at Penang as part of her 2010 World Cruise.

Some 2,300 passengers were greeted with traditional performances upon their arrival.

On hand to greet them were state Tourism Development Committee chairman Law Heng Kiang, Penang Port Sdn Bhd (PPSB) chairman Datuk Seri Dr Hilmi Yahaya, its chief operating officer Azlan Hamid, PPSB general manager (cargo) Abdul Halim Abdul Kader and Pacific World Travel Sdn Bhd executive director Cherry Lee.

The QM2 set sail on her third world voyage on Jan 4 with a unique itinerary of 101 days of sailing, which will see her making maiden calls to places like Cairo, Muscat, Mumbai, Phuket, Penang and other destinations.

Dr Hilmi said the QM2's stopover here marked a new milestone for PPSB operations in handling the cruise liner business.

He said 2,200 ships carrying about 800,000 passengers had stopped over at Port Swettenham last year and PPSB targetted the figure to increase to one million this year.

PPSB hoped to achieve some RM6 million in revenue from cruise liners that berthed at the Swettenham Pier this year, he added.

Dr Hilmi also said PPSB hoped to get the newly-completed cruise terminal fully operational within the next three months.

Once ready, the heritage godowns located next to the terminal would be refurbished and turned into handicraft and other traditional craft centres.